A BRIGHT, bold building acting as a guiding light for the town’s regeneration or a blot on the landscape? Love it or hate it, this colourful new addition to Southend’s skyline is dividing opinion.

The University of Essex’s new student accommodation development in London Road is a landmark that can’t be missed, thanks to its height and distinctive multi-coloured panel cladding.

The building is set to open in October 2010 and will be used as halls of residence for 561 students, but is already splitting opinion into those who like its futuristic appearance and see it as a guiding light for the town’s regeneration and those who think it is a blot on the town’s landscape.

Leigh-based architect Bernard Gooding is not a fan of the design of the new building in an area often described by Southend Council as the gateway to the town centre.

He said: “I can’t say very much in favour of this building.

“The use is good, but I think the design unfortunately doesn’t fit in with the town, which is a shame.

“From my point of view it’s out of context. It doesn’t fit in with the surrounding area and it’s not in line with the prevailing style of the town.”

Mr Gooding said he also feared the building’s sheer walls could create a wind tunnel effect, and thought it would be difficult to keep the coloured panels clean, which could also fade over time.

But he accepted the building would eventually become part of the town’s landscape as people became used to seeing it.

Mr Gooding said: “When the college itself was first built it was quite dramatic, but people have got accustomed to it, and I think we have got to become accustomed to different buildings.”

The project was only given planning permission in October last year and work has progressed apace, with areas of the building’s facade already free of scaffolding.

Bob Mack, dean of the university’s Southend campus, cited the success of the university’s Ivor Crewe lecture theatre on its Colchester campus after an initially frosty reception as proof such buildings grew on people over time.

Mr Mack said: “I like the new accommodation, but I am not surprised that there’s a variation of opinion, because it happens with every new building that goes up, unless it is incredibly bland.

“I personally like it. It’s different, it’s modern and I suppose architects these days would feel they weren’t successful unless their work evoked different responses.

“I walked by London Road yesterday and was looking at the panels and the colours. I think students will like it. It makes the university and the town stand out. The town is hoping to be the first UK capital of culture, and modern architecture is very important to that.”

He added students had also expressed enthusiasm for the building’s green credentials, which are set to include innovations such as the recycling of rainwater to flush toilets.

As well as providing student housing, the building will also feature a 300-space underground car park, which will partly replace the current Farringdon multi-storey, which is earmarked for demolition.

The building, on the old South East Essex College site, is the result of a partnership between the university and developers Hollybrook Homes.

Southend councillor John Lamb, who is responsible for regeneration, believes the building will have benefits to the town beyond its striking appearance.

He said: “I think this will have a great effect on the regeneration of the area. When you look at it, it stands out.

“It shows we are moving forward. It adds a whole new area and dimension to the town centre.”

Anna Waite, Tory Southend councillor responsible for planning, also backs the development as a guiding light in the regeneration of the whole area, but recognises it could take a while for people to accept it as part of the townscape.

She added: “It is a bold, bright building. It is built to take Southend into the 21st century.

“I think the jury is out. Some will like it and some won’t, and some will come to like it and others who used to like it will come to dislike it.”