WORK has started on yet more accommodation for students in Huddersfield.

Teams of workmen have moved heavy equipment on to the site of a derelict engineering firm on King’s Bridge Road.

And it is expected that the work on the accommodation housing more than 600 students, will be completed by the middle of next year.

The site has been used as a privately-run car park for the past few years.

But for many years the site was occupied by Roberts’ Castings metal foundry.

Their buildings were knocked down seven years ago and the site has remained unoccupied.

The Watkin Jones Group bought the land and gained planning permission to transform the site into a residential property.

Architectural firm K4, drew up a plan for a 653 bedroomed student village with a large central courtyard and a number of group spaces.

The firm has vowed to make a link with the River Colne which runs alongside the site and create a public walkway.

Architect Malwina Gruszecka said: “We aim to incorporate features that fit in with the area and the older buildings.

“We have been using the old mill buildings in the area and other sites as inspiration.

“We will be using sandstone and some metal cladding to ensure it is in keeping.”

Developers have been liaising with the Environment Agency to ensure that there will be no flooding from the river.

The new hostel will sit alongside several others in the area, providing accommodation to the students at the University of Huddersfield.

They include Snow Island and the two Aspley Hall sites in Firth Street, as well as others currently under construction in Newsome Road.

The Watkin Jones Group has experience in the field of student accommodation having built 20,000 student bed spaces across the country.

Once the accommodation is built, their subsidiary company, Fresh Student Living, will manage the building.