New neighbours for Nelson's feathered friends

Students will join pigeons, lions and a 19th-century naval hero as residents of one of London's most famous spots next year under plans to turn offices in Trafalgar Square into halls of residence, writes Paul Hill.

The London School of Economics plans to turn Northumberland House into student residences in time for the 2006 intake.

The Grade II listed building, which dates back to the 1880s, was used as a hotel before being requisitioned by the War Office in 1939 and was used by the Ministry of Defence until this year.

The LSE has been given planning consent to turn the offices into 264 single and twin en suite rooms - about half of which will go to first-year students and most of the remainder to postgraduates.

The LSE said that rooms would be allocated by lottery and that the rent would be "similar, perhaps slightly lower" than its existing halls in High Holborn.

In total, 900 extra student beds will be available for LSE students in 2006 under plans to create new residences in Drury Lane and Spitalfields.