No more student flats needed in city, warns university

A university has hit out at speculative student flat developers and councillors for building too much housing that is not needed. Birmingham’s Aston University warns they have their sums wrong and the city’s student numbers will fall as restrictions on students from abroad and higher tuition fees begin to bite. Chief finance officer Alister Hewgill slammed Birmingham City Council for approving plans for two tower blocks - one reaching16 storeys - that could house 472 students. “There is no demonstrated need for this student residence,” he said. “The assessment of student numbers is flawed. It is not up to date.” Hewgill says he expects more students to take courses nearer home to keep their living costs down as tuition fees rise. He also pointed out that Aston’s own new 700-bed halls of residence is opening in 2013 and more student blocks are in the pipeline. Other cities have warned student housing is reaching saturation point - especially in Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford and Sheffield. Banks have also pulled funding on many projects, blaming over exposure to the market as the main reason for closing the lids on their coffers. Councillor John Clancy , who sits on Birmingham’s planning committee, said: “Aston University is asking us to intervene in the market for student flats, which is not our place.” Another councillor Keith Linnecor said: “Although I can see there is conflict with the university, the application meets our planning policies and the design is impressive.” A derelict warehouse is on the site of the proposed student development. Developer KD Imports explained the new blocks are the second phase of a student housing project The first phase opened last month and was over subscribed. Similar developments are in front of planners in Northampton and Carlisle, each providing purpose-built accommodation for up to 500 students. Cumbria University appealed for landlords to offer homes to students for this academic year due to an accommodation shortage in the city.

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Siobhan Smith

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