Demolition work has begun on the site of a major student accommodation development in Exeter.

Located at Quintana Gate, the former NHS screening centre is being development into a multi-storey student accommodation block.

Gilpin Demolition moved onto the site last week, ahead of its transformation into a modern apartment block.

Plans to erect student accommodation were unanimously approved in July, which will see 130 luxury student rooms being constructed on the L-shaped site.

Neil Mantell from LRM Planning said of the development: "This will not be a run-of-the-mill student development. We are promising a luxury complex that will include communal lounges, a gym, a laundry room and bike stores with bikes for use by residents."

The development, despite going ahead, did face criticism from the Exeter Civic Society who argued the design would spoil its historic surroundings. The society said: "This is visually too big, too high, dominant and overbearing and we strongly urge refusal."

The development is expected to open later this year.