University opposes plans for another Nottingham student development

A Nottingham university has objected to plans for accommodation that would house 396 students near the city centre. A 17-storey tower is proposed for the junction of Wilford Road and Traffic Street near Nottingham railway station.

The scheme by developers Jensco would comprises 265 cluster flats and 131 studios and is one of two student complexes that have been recommended for approval at Nottingham City Council's next planning committee meeting on Wednesday, June 19. However, the project does not have the support of the University of Nottingham (UoN) due to its high proportion of studio flats.

The Russell Group university said it was a "well considered" proposal, but said it did not align with the Student Living Strategy. It pointed out studio flats make up 22 per cent of all purpose built student accommodation in the city, well above the national average of 12 per cent, planning documents show.

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"With the increase in rental price point the University are concerned that the prevalence of expensive studios would impact on student recruitment, and are the wrong product mix for them," city council planning officers said. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) objected to the initial plans, which included 156 studios (almost 40 per cent of the development).

It described Nottingham as being "overrepresented with studio accommodation" which resulted in a high proportion being empty at the start of the academic year. After negotiations between the developer and universities, the number of studios were reduced.

This led NTU to declare its support for the scheme, while UoN said it was a "step in the right direction" but not enough to remove its objection. The Old Meadows Tenants and Residents Association also “have expressed their strong objection to the development”, saying the Meadows community “feels shut off from the city”.

Nottingham Civic Society objects strongly, documents show, due to its height "damaging the setting of Nottingham Castle".

A UoN spokesperson said: "The university has been engaging with planners and through them working with the developers to advise on the design of this proposal to ensure that student needs are adequately reflected. Our continued objection remains solely around the bed/room type ratios, however, in all other ways we are generally supportive of the scheme.

"The [Student Living Strategy] strategy is successfully directing new schemes towards cluster-led designs, addressing the specific needs of students. Limiting the number of studios reflects a commitment to creating living spaces that enhance the student experience and provide a direct alternative to on-street housing which encourages students to choose PBSA and reduce concentration of students within communities."

Nigel Bobroff, director at Jensco Group, previously said: “Three Wilford Road will be a high-quality and sensitively designed, car-free, purpose-built student housing development, with vastly improved public realm and fantastic transport links to both universities." Council figures show almost half of all housing and accommodation built in Nottingham in the past 13 years has been for students.

Since 2011, 8,481 units of housing have been built for non-student use, while 7,311 units were built for students.