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Summer 2006

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Summer 2006 Newsletter - Contents Page

Our Neighbourhoods

A Map of the Nottingham Action Group On HMOs Neighbourhoods

From Trent Bridge To Sherwood Rise

Two areas separated by the City Centre, very different in character, but with concerns about HMOs and how they may affect their neighbourhoods.

Conservation area taking its name from the Arboretum public park opened in 1852. Originally a ‘grand suburb’ with houses to match. It lies on the northern edge of the city centre close to Nottingham Trent University.

Berrymede

Built in the 1970’s to provide city centre homes for families. Today close proximity to Nottingham Trent University makes it a prime location for intensive redevelopment as student HMOs.

The Park

Unique estate with a long, proud history Much sought after residential area. Virtually in the city centre

Lenton & Dunkirk

A collection of distinct neighbourhoods with their own peculiar characteristics. Tower blocks, ‘Saturday Night & Sunday Morning’, Victorian & Edwardian elegance, terraces, modern family homes and town houses.

Lenton Gardens

Early 1970’s estate, once offered a range of good sized family homes with garages and gardens. University of Nottingham’s University Park and Jubilee Campuses close by makes it a target for absentee owners renting out to students

Hillside

Garden gateway to the City. Since the 1920’s these houses have provided good homes for families to grow up in.

Lenton Abbey and Beeston

Lenton Abbey lies alongside the south-western edge of University Park, just within Nottingham City’s boundaries. Mixture of council, ex-council and other private housing.

Wollaton Park Neighbourhoods

Developed in 1920’s & 1930’s on parkland surrounding Wollaton Hall, it lies alongside the University of Nottingham’s University Park and Jubilee Campuses.

Radford, Hyson Green and Forest Fields

People from many ethnic and cultural backgrounds have made their homes here.

The Lenton Triangle

Canning Circus, Derby Road, Lenton Boulevard, Ilkeston Road form a triangle with the highest concentration of student HMOs in the City.

Government Council Universities Students

Now all agree with us that there is a problem.
THE CHALLENGE IS HOW TO SOLVE IT.

The Mad Hatters Tea Party

An extract from a letter sent recently by a Council enforcement team member to a resident .......

HMO Planning Update Meeting Notes 21 07 2010

2010-08-04 10:36:52 :: LOCAL ISSUES
A report was presented at a special meeting of the NAG on 21 July 2010 which updated attendees on current HMO planning legislation; presented an assessment of the potential impact on the ability of local planning authorities to control the spread and concentration of HMOs of the coalition government's proposed amendments to that legislation; and gave Nottingham City Council's response to Grant Shapps' (Minister of Housing) consultation on the subject.

The New Planning Legislation That Came Into Effect on 6 April 2010

2010-07-09 13:59:39 :: LOCAL ISSUES
This establishes a definition within planning law of what an HMO (shared house) is and also requires that any proposed change of use from a family home (use class C3) to an HMO (use class C4) requires planning permission. The Coalition Government has announced its intention to amend this legislation so that the change from a family home to an HMO will not require planning permission unless the local authority sets up Article 4 Directions removing this permitted right.

A limited (and by invitation only) consultation closes today, 9 July and it is the Coalition Government's intention to bring in the mendments by 1 October 2010. The National HMO Lobby was invited to comment and its response can be downloaded here:

The NAG was not invited to comment, but the Group has evertheless sent a letter to Grant Shapps MP, The Minister for Housing on this matter and this too can be downloaded here.

Nottingham City Council Student Households Report

2010-07-06 10:18:36 :: LOCAL ISSUES

This report to the City Council's Development Control Committee provides data relating to the number of students living in HMOs in Nottingham.

The NAG Wish List

2010-07-02 12:30:17 :: LOCAL ISSUES

THE UNIVERSITIES, STUDENT UNIONS, STUDENTS & THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

The Nottingham Action Group on HMOs (NAG) organized an open meeting in March of this year with Professor Karen Cox and Stephen Dudderidge (Nottingham University) and Professor Anne Priest and Michael Lees (Nottingham Trent University).

Following on from that meeting, it was suggested that it would be useful if the NAG were to compile a ‘wish list’ of actions the universities should undertake as part of a long-term commitment to playing their role in improving those of our neighbourhoods where HMOs, their owners and their student tenants have a significant impact.

In putting together the list, advice was sought from a cross-section of NAG members, and took into account the topics raised at the March 2010 open meeting and at the large number of other NAG meetings that have taken place both before and since the Group was formally constituted in 2004.

The result is not so much a list of demands as list of those actions NAG members believe can be reasonably requested of the universities. Some are measures that can be implemented relatively fast to provide ‘quick’ wins for all parties: universities, councils, students and, of course, established residents. Others will need long-term commitment in terms of time and effort in order to achieve results. However, the NAG strongly believes that, taken together, these actions will produce lasting benefits for everyone.

BBC TV Politics Show Features HMOs, Effects On Neighbourhoods & Changes To Planning

2009-09-17 17:07:26 :: LOCAL ISSUES

The Nottingham Action Group has taken part in filming for the BBC TV Politics Show (East Midlands)due to go out at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday, 20 September. The programme has visited Loughborough as well as Lenton and is focusing on the effects of concentrations of student housing on the host communities, and what sort of effect possible changes in planning legislation will have on the future of our neighbourhoods.

If you miss the programme itself, it will be available for a week on the East Midlands section of the BBC's Politics Show website:

www.bbc.co.uk/politicsshow

Consultation Meeting On Nottingham's Core & Sustainable Communities Strategies

2009-07-20 14:58:22 :: LOCAL ISSUES

Wednesday, 12 August 2009
6.30 pm onwards at
St. Mary's Church Hall
Wollaton Hall Drive
Wollaton Park

Grant Butterworth, Head of Planning, Transport and Intelligence Strategy for the City Council and his team will be at the meeting to get your views on the developing Core Strategy for Nottingham as well as the City's Sustainable Communities Strategy.

The Core Strategy will form the central element of the City Council's Local Development Framework which, in turn will set out the planning policies that determine future development in the City. We need to ensure that the core strategy includes policies that reflect our concerns as residents living neighbourhoods with problems caused by HMOs.

The City Council is putting together a number of proposals to Government under the Sustainable Communities Act. These include amendments to national legislation, guidance and policy to allow the Council to address issues of concern to local communities. The proposals will help the Council to be more effective in tackling many of the environmental and social problems connected to HMOs.

Light refreshments will be provided at the meeting and everyone who is interested in the future of our neighbourhoods is strongly urged to come.

Feedback on Letting Boards Scheme

2009-05-22 07:36:03 :: LOCAL ISSUES

The feedback provided by all interested parties during the recent
consultation period on the City's Voluntary Control of Letting Boards
Scheme has been used to produce a final code of practice for the scheme.

Student Numbers

2009-05-22 07:30:22 :: LOCAL ISSUES

This report to the City Council's Development Control Committee provides data relating to the number of students living in HMOs in Nottingham. I particular it shows that the number of students living in HMOs has increased by around 9% since 2007.

Control of Letting Boards

2009-04-02 12:36:11 :: LOCAL ISSUES

A forest of 'To Let' boards, followed by another forest of 'Let By' or 'Let Agreed' boards do nothing to improve the appearance of our streets. It's a put-off to potential family buyers and renters.

It pinpoints HMOs to would-be burglars. And it reinforces the transient nature of the community. It is one of those issues that established residents and students agree on.

As a past President of Nottingham Trent's Students Union wrote for this magazine in 2007: 'We too are sick of the numerous TO LET signs left up permanently, preventing the student residents from ever feeling at ‘home. …’

UNIPOL's Second Student Garden Survey

2009-04-01 17:21:46 :: LOCAL ISSUES

UNIPOL are conducting their second survey of student gardens on the 7th of May. We are looking for volunteers to help with this. Full training given. If you can spare part of a day and are interested in knowing more please contact The NAG on 07762 525 625 or use our Contact Page.