THE University of Cumbria has come under fire after lodging plans to double the number of beds it offers in Ambleside as it prepares to cope with a student influx.

Currently there are only 127 spaces for students with others being forced to commute from halls in Lancaster to attend lessons.

But with around 500 expected by next year and even more by 2016, the university has submitted a planning application to the Lake District National Park Authority to create 144 new en-suite bedrooms across two sites.

If approved it is hoped work will begin in spring ready for the September 2016 intake.

But Harry Manning, chairman of Ambleside Civic Trust, raised concerns including the impact the new buildings would have on the town's conservation area, the loss of visual amenity on the existing halls of residence - two of which are of special character - and of the wooden cladding proposed for the houses.

"The Rothay Valley is one of the most visited valleys in the Lake District and to put these buildings here will destroy the character," he said. "I am not advocating the University leaves Ambleside by any means but they have got to listen to the response of residents."

He also said problems could arise because of added noise and lighting while questioning the decision to allow Ambleside United Junior Football Club exclusive rights to a new sports pavilion which is proposed to be built as part of the one of the developments.

Meanwhile, a university spokesperson told the Gazette the sale of the university-owned Hilltop to Premier Inn is still subject to contract, as is the sale of Kelsick Grammar School to a development firm, who hope to convert it into a high-class hotel.

Cllr Heidi Halliday, who sits on both South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council, queried whether the university had fully explored options to place students in those buildings.

"Two buildings are standing empty and I want to how seriously they have looked at the possibility of converting them," she said. "If they looked at them a lot earlier they could have had students in there already. Instead, this is going to drag on until 2016 now."

The proposal, which is open to consultation until December 1, is across two university-owned locations called North and South site.

North Site sits in open ground to the north of Rydal Road and comprises of five nine-bedroomed town-houses and two three-storey villas each with 14 bedrooms, capable of housing 73 students.

The South Site falls within the boundaries of the Ambleside Conservation Area behind the three existing Halls of Residence and is proposed to accommodate 71 students.

It includes plans for five four-storey houses with eleven beds and two three-storey houses each with room for eight students.

"This development will complete the regeneration of the site and ensure we have suitable student accommodation on offer to our students studying at Ambleside," said a spokesperson.

"Our Ambleside courses have proved extremely popular - high demand for places means demand for accommodation is also at a premium."