University: We’ll need to house 4.2k students
for student accommodation at the bus station site and a similar one at the former cinema / Poundstretcher building, in Church Street.
“While the residents group has always seen accommodation above retail in the own centre as a viable use, we are dismayed at the applications for overbearing multistorey blocks, which will alter the nature of a small market town and do nothing to attract all-yearround visitors.”
Local resident Simon Evans wrote: “Ormskirk’s dynamics are being changed by such developments. I support Edge Hill as an important part of the town, but Edge Hill has a large amount of land on which these or alternative accommodation could be built without further damage to the historic culture and integrity of the town in which we residents live permanently and call our home.”
Barbara Smith said: “Landlords have taken most of the small terraced houses for students, which were good firsttime lets for newlyweds and couples. If we have to have some new-builds, let it be affordable flats to rent for non-students.”
Fears have since been raised over the validity of the numbers needed to house students and the lack of alternative uses these developments would have when vacant.
However, the growth of the University, which has enjoyed a rise in admissions while national numbers fell, has been cited as a boost for the local economy and the town’s small businesses.
Demand for places at Edge Hill is expected to continue to increase in the coming years as it expands and develops, in particular after next year’s opening of the standalone Medical School.
Applications such as the scheme to the rear of Church Street have caused unhappiness among some resident groups, such as the New Ormskirk Residents Group and the West Lancashire Conservation Area Advisory Panel objecting in this case, but they have become the preferred alternative to the controversial practice of converting family homes.
Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill, John Cater, said: “Returning homes to family occupation is a priority we support and, as the local authority report indicates, every four student bedrooms constructed in purpose-built accommodation releases one family-sized home.
“The report is correct in stating that ‘there is insufficient purpose-built accommodation on and off site to meet the demand from secondand third-year students’ but predicting student housing need into the mid-range future is extremely difficult and will be influenced by both Government policy and the continuing success of the university.”
Mr Harrison’s report states: “The University are the most reliable source of forecasts for student numbers and demand for student accommodation.
“As such, while concerns have been expressed that Edge Hill University have not published the data analysis behind their forecasts, there is no valid reason to doubt the accuracy of their forecasts.” ● WHAT do you think? Email our Letters page at: seftoncommunities@trinitymirror.com