Proposals could impact on student property developers
PLANNING GUIDANCE MAY SECURE FUNDING FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY
DEVELOPERS of new student accommodation in Nottingham may have to pay towards affordable housing in the city.
The city council is receiving unprecedented numbers of planning applications to build Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), as student numbers continue to rise in the city – with approximately 52,500 full time students at both universities in the 2020/21 academic year.
The changes could come into place under new proposals which are set to go to the City Council’s Executive Board for approval next week.
Despite a further 2,000 PBSA bed spaces becoming available for this academic year (2020-21) in Nottingham, figures show this is only just keeping up with demand.
If adopted, the new Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which went through a public consultation last year, will help improve the balance of housing types across the city by using Section 106 agreements. It aims to mitigate the impact of a new development on the local community, often contributing towards employment and training opportunities, educational services, the upkeep of open spaces and investment in transport and its infrastructure.
Currently, The Local Plan - used by planning officers and members of the Planning Committee alongside other national and local documents - requires 10 ppercent of all new residential developments of between 10-14 homes to be affordable housing, and 20 percent for schemes of 15 homes or more.
The SPD will bring student schemes in line with this requirement for general housing, by proving a mechanism to secure funding for affordable housing contributions using the following thresholds:
■ Between 50-74 bed spaces - 10 percent contribution
■ 75+ bed spaces - 20 percent contribution.
The amount of contribution will depend on the size, impact and viability for each development. Currently, PBSA schemes contribute
Developers are currently only just keeping pace with demand [for student accommodation]
Cllr Linda Woodings
towards improvements to open space, employment and training opportunities and other necessary contributions such as flood protection measures. Cllr Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage, said: “Our two universities are vital for the city’s economy, especially now, as the city recovers from Covid-19. They are important in terms of the investment they bring and the jobs they support and create, as well as helping to teach and train our future doctors, nurses, scientists and teachers.
“We understand there’s a perception that there’s too much student accommodation in the city, but actually, developers are currently only just keeping pace with demand and of course other housing types continue to be planned and built in the city.
“Purpose Built Student Accommodation is an essential part of Nottingham’s housing market allowing students to live in the right accommodation and locations for them while freeing up much-needed family housing - but as new schemes come forward, the City Council wants to ensure that they contribute towards the city’s affordable housing needs.
“Nottingham residents are in need of affordable housing, and the financial contributions from these schemes can help us build new affordable homes to meet that demand.”