IT IS set to be one of the tallest landmarks on Southampton's skyline.

More than 500 students and nurses will be housed in a huge new accommodation block situated in the heart of the city centre.

The imposing £15m structure is being built for Bristol-based company Unite, which provides student and public sector worker accommodation.

At 18 storeys it will be taller than the adjacent 175ft, 14-storey Duke's Keep Tower, which was described as Southampton's very own skyscraper when it was built in 1975.

Due for completion in August 2004, the development in Duke Street, in the St Mary's area of the city, will also include shops and a doctor's surgery.

The City Council's chairman of the planning and rights of way committee Councllor John Slade welcomed the development.

He said: "Education plays a major part in the city. We have more than 30,000 students and they are a major feature. This will be beneficial to the city, for students and key workers. We need people in the city.

"While it is a prominent building there is plenty of space around it. Everything is relevant."

Accommodation in the 538-bedroom block will be split between 25 per cent nurses and 75 per cent students.

The building is predominantly six storeys, but will include an 18-storey tower on the corner of Richmond Street and Terminus Terrace, providing a dominating feature in the city.

It will comprise cluster flats of between five and seven en-suite bedrooms, including a shared dining room and kitchen. It will differ from normal halls of residence in that each bedroom will have its own front door.

Unlike many of the surrounding halls of residence, which are owned by Southampton Institute, the tower block will not be affiliated to either the institute or Southampton University. Instead all accommodation will be let out privately by Unite. Founded in 1991, Unite is one of the UK's largest providers of accommodation to students and has more than 30,000 secured beds in 31 cities across the UK.

The company's south-west regional development director Mark Tyrrell said: "This development will incorporate the regeneration of a derelict underused site which will take pressure off the mainstream housing market by providing bespoke accommodation for students.

"It is situated near the institute and oceanography centre in Southampton."

Planning director Mervyn McFarland at Turley Associates, who secured planning permission, added: "The building design was a very sensitive issue and we worked closely with the urban design team at Southampton City Council to ensure the development would make a positive contribution to the landscape in Southampton."

To find out more information about accommodation in the new development contact Unite on 084 5111 0021 or visit the website at www.unite-students.co.uk