The transformation of the old YMCA building in Worcester into student accommodation has come one step closer.

An application by housing company Purple Frog to remodel the main listed building on Henwick road and construct new accommodation blocks will be discussed by councillors on Worcester City Council’s planning committee.

The company intends to transform the YMCA building into rooms for 87 students with a new building providing a further 62 bedrooms.

The site will also have communal facilities including a gym, a cinema room, laundry and communal lounge and study spaces.

Planning officers have recommended permission should be granted as long as agreements about conditions can be made.

The application said: “The strategy for conversion of the existing building has assumed that all modern interventions sub-dividing the original large dormitories, classrooms etc will be removed, giving a clean slate for conversion.”

Behind the original listed 1868 building, which will not be knocked down, the company plans to add a large L-shaped additional block, and means to design it in keeping with the main building, and also largely screened from Henwick Road.

The report to councillors says that the University of Worcester told the developers that it currently had an undersupply of purpose-built student accommodation to the order of 500 rooms.

That need, which is only for first year students, and doesn’t take account of likely demand from second and third year students is being currently filled by private landlords renting out houses of multiple occupation.

It adds: “The site is considered an ideal location for purpose-built student accommodation. [It] will represent a viable re-use of existing buildings and previously developed land in the urban area, within walking distance of the university campus.”

The conditions that the council wants to impose on the developer include one that the units are not used for anything other than student accommodation during term-time, apart from rooms for wardens at the site.

The Planning Committee meeting is scheduled to start at 1.30pm on Thursday, June 28 at the Guildhall in Worcester.

Members of the public are entitled to attend.