Why our city needs more student flats
A COUNCILLOR says more student accommodation is needed in Nottingham city centre to prevent rent prices from going up.
Councillor Graham Chapman, vice-chairman of the planning committee, who represents the Aspley ward, spoke out at a meeting to approve the new 13-storey student block in place of the Bendigo building.
Nottingham City Council estimates that an additional 7,000 student rooms are needed over the next three years.
“We have two of the most successful universities in the country, which is a blessing but also a curse,” Councillor Chapman said.
“The problem that we have is that if we do not accommodate students then they will move to privatesector residential lets in the midst of communities. That is what has already happened. The reason why we try and concentrate students in city centres is to try to deflate that demand outside.
“We’ve had marginal success because the number of students has just increased and increased and increased and that will increase again this year.”
A number of plans for student accommodation have been submitted to the council.
They include plans to demolish the Nottingham Legend pub in Parliament Street, while a number of developments are under way on the south side of the city.
Councillor Chapman added: “Last year, Nottingham Trent was shipping people out to Derby so it is essential that we try to keep up with the game and deflate the housing market elsewhere.
“Because it will have a knock-on effect all the way down to places like Aspley, where the rent levels have gone up from about £450 per month to about £600 and £700 in the space of probably 18 months.”