ABERYSTWYTH University has insisted a £10m project to renovate an historic Welsh-language halls of residence remains on track, despite a planning application having to be withdrawn and resubmitted over fire safety fears.

The institution submitted plans for a £10m renovation of Neuadd Pantycelyn halls in July, saying it intends to “proceed with the project” to provide refurbished Welsh-medium accommodation at Pantycelyn by September 2019.

The application, which was backed by Welsh-language campaigners and Aberystwyth Town Council, was withdrawn late last month, however - potentially knocking back the timeline.

The university said that the plan was withdrawn so that plans for a new sprinkler system could be added, following the fears around building fire safety in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire tower in London.

The new plans will be submitted “as soon as possible”, the institution said.

The plan will see 200 en-suite bedrooms, with full catering provision and social spaces but would, however, put Pantycelyn as the most expensive catered accommodation in the whole university, with a report estimating that the cost to students could rise to over £22 a night.

An Aberystwyth University spokesperson said: “Since submitting our planning application in July, the university has been asked by Ceredigion County Council to include the installation of a sprinkler system in the fire strategy for the refurbishment of the building.

“A specialist technical firm is currently working on detailed options and we will be resubmitting our planning application as soon as possible."

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