A care home which closed recently in a move branded ‘cold-blooded’ could be turned into student accommodation.

The Hallgarth Care Home in Durham City shut after owners Four Seasons Health Care announced its closure back in June. At the time the GMB Union, which represented workers there, said it was a “cold-blooded decision based on profit”.

All residents were moved out of the home and plans have now been submitted for it to be turned into student accommodation.

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The plans, submitted to Durham County Council by Unity Living, would see the home converted into 9 student flats with a total of 69 bedrooms.

It will see two conservatories replaced by “habitable rooms” and new bike and bin sheds erected.

And the number of car parking spaces will be slashed from 36 to 18.

Four Seasons Health Care said the closure of Hallgarth Care Home in Durham had been a ‘difficult decision’ but did not comment on the future of the building.

A spokesperson said: “We can confirm all of the residents had been relocated by 7 July.”

Neil Jarvis, Durham County Council’s senior commissioning delivery manager, said: “We have worked closely with the care provider, residents, and families to ensure all residents were successfully relocated before the home’s closure.

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“Our adult care social work teams have followed up on all cases to ensure transitions to new care homes have gone smoothly. All care staff members who wished to continue working in the sector have been supported in finding employment elsewhere.”

It comes amid a student housing crisis in the city which last October saw students queueing for hours to sign for rentals almost a year in advance. Students told the Echo they felt as though they had no alternative but to queue, often from the early hours of the morning, as houses in the city were scarce, and affordable properties were even scarcer, to ensure they had somewhere to live for the next academic year.

The Northern Echo contacted Durham University for comment.