Call To Stop Uni 'Ghettos'
News Story :: 2006-12-28 16:56:54
This article about 'student ghettos' has come about as a result of work being done by our colleagues in Loughborough. They have engaged their local MP and, through him, a visit to Loughborough was arranged for Philip Woolas (minister with responsibility for communities, etc.). He was taken for a tour of the affected areas in Loughborough and was clearly impressed by what Loughborough residents showed him. We have spoken with their organizers and it seems that a meeting with Yvette Cooper (Housing and Planning) is being arranged. The Evening Post article is based on a report that appeared in Hansard and also on stories that have already appeared in the Evening Post.Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, 27 December, 2006
Call To Stop Uni 'Ghettos'
More powers are needed to stop neighbourhoods in university cities such as Nottingham becoming 'student ghettos', it is claimed.
Mp Andy Reed wants landlords to need permission from the council before turning a home into a student house.
He admits it may not change the so-called 'studentification' that has already occurred in parts of cities such as Nottingham, but says it could prevent other areas being over-run by students in future.
The Loughborough MP has raised his bid for the introduction of 'classes orders' - which requires a landlord to seek planning permission for the change in use of the building.
Similar permission is needed if a business wants to change the use of a building.
"In Northern Ireland, if you change a normal house into a student house you have to apply for planning permission," said Mr Reed.
"It doesn't exist here at the moment. There are a lot of groups coming together now that think this would be quite a powerful tool for local authorities."
The Post has reported extensively on how large areas such as Lenton have seen many family homes turned into student properties. The remaining permanent residents have experienced problems with noise, litter and anti-social behaviour.
Without the 'classes orders', councils face huge difficulty when they try to stop a family home being turned into a student home.
However, Nottingham City Council is preparing to go to the High Court to defend planning guidance it has drawn up in an attempt to control the situation. Student property owner Megaclose Ltd is seeking a judicial review of a council document which` identifies areas where student accommodation would be "most appropriate".
The firm, based in Goldsmith Street, objected to a condition to prevent the occupation of some newly developed housing by students.
If the council loses the case, which is expected to take up to 12 months to resolve, it will be liable for costs, which could top £40,000.
Mr Reed said he was aware of Nottingham's problems, but claimed the situation was probably even worse in his own constituency, where the population of 60,000 includes 14,000 students.
Although Ms Smith said she was happy to meet Mr Reed, she stressed there were differences between the situation in Northern Ireland and here.
She said: "The circumstances here may mean that [classes orders] are not suitable, but we should discuss anything that could relieve the situation and are happy to meet him."
"I would be reluctant always to see students as part of the problem. I hope that they can be part of the solution."
Mr Reed said: "They say circumstances differ, but I still need to be convinced they're that different."
jonathan.reed