PLANS to demolish the old halls of residence at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels and build new state-of-the-art accommodation for 250 students will be unveiled at a public exhibition on Tuesday night (March 2).

In advance of making an application for planning permission for the new student residences project the University is holding an exhibition and drop-in session where the latest plans will be available to view.

The student residences project was approved by the University in September 2008. The University then established a Residences Project Group to take this forward to the next stage. The developed designs will be presented to both PME and Court for consideration and approval.

Throughout the residences project those who will reside and work in the buildings have been engaged in identifying the key features that will be of benefit to them. The outputs from workshops and discussions resulted in a comprehensive brief to the architects.

As part of the process the result of the design work to date and the plans will be available to view at the exhibition. Staff from the residences project will be available at both events to discuss the plans and to note any comments.

It will be held in the Dining Area of the Halls of Residence, Tweed Road, Galashiels on Tuesday, March 2, from 4pm to 8pm.

Last month we revealed the £12million project will be built next to the current halls on the existing site, which overlooks the new Scottish Borders Campus, and includes the demolition of the university gym.

A spokeswoman for the university said: "We have been looking to update the halls for some time to keep up to date with students expectations. This is part of the university estates strategy and also involves the redevelopment of our residential campus up in Edinburgh." The university inherited the student residences, which were built back in the 1960s, from the former Scottish College of Textiles. However, if the plans are approved, it is anticipated work could start on the new halls as soon as the summer.