THESE are the first images for a new student village accommodating up to 2000 students.

The University of Sussex has unveiled plans for a new student village on its campus at Falmer which will triple the amount of student housing on its East Slope site.

The plans are the first stage of a £500 million programme of investment to modernise and improve the campus which the university estimates will bring in around 2400 new permanent jobs.

The plans unveiled are part of the university’s campus masterplan which was granted outline consent last year on appeal after Brighton and Hove City Council initially rejected the proposal.

If these new plans are granted planning permission, work could begin in January next year with the first phase ready for the start of the 2018/19 academic year and with all work completed by 2020.

The new student village will see 2,100 student bedrooms to replace 590 outdated units built in the 1970s in a mix of town houses and flats.

Residents will be able to learn more about the plans during two information days at University of Sussex information centre in Lewes Road, Brighton, Thursday between noon and 2pm and also in Jubilee Library on Thursday and Saturday between 10am and 5pm.

John Duffy, the university’s registrar and secretary, said: “We want to provide the best facilities for our students and staff so that we can continue to undertake life-changing research and bring all the benefits of being an internationally recognised educational institution to the Brighton region.

“Over time, we hope to house more of our students on campus or in University operated accommodation, rather than in the private residential sector in Brighton and Hove. This new development is a key part of that vision.

“The University has been working closely with local residents and businesses, Brighton and Hove City Council, Historic England and other local bodies, as well as our own students, to ensure that we take into account their views.

"We are hosting a number of public information days to give people a chance to look at our plans and discuss their thoughts.”