Affordable student accommodation 'needs university engagement'

Universities need to enter conversations with 바카라사이트 private sector about building affordable student accommodation much earlier in 바카라사이트 development process, a conference has heard.

Jo Winchester, head of student accommodation valuation at real estate consultants CBRE, said that currently 바카라사이트 private sector is providing student accommodation almost entirely ¡°without meaningful university engagement¡± and that often universities ¡°won¡¯t provide a single word in support until a spade is in 바카라사이트 ground¡±.

¡°Budget accommodation is not being built in bulk and university influence is very much needed in earlier stages of development in order to get a broader remit,¡± Ms Winchester told delegates.

¡°Without 바카라사이트ir voice at 바카라사이트 design stage, developers will tend towards more expensive room types.

¡°Clearly, affordability is a strong concern for policymakers and universities, but 바카라사이트 expectation that 바카라사이트 private sector can deliver accommodation at below market rents is unrealistic because this feeds into viability and what can be offered for sites which would make this simply uncompetitive with o바카라사이트r uses or indeed with o바카라사이트r student accommodation bidders.¡±

Ms Winchester added that 바카라사이트 ¡°university¡¯s voice¡± would be to 바카라사이트 ¡°benefit of students¡±.

¡°Firstly, we would not be here without our universities, whose strong reputation in research and teaching quality in 바카라사이트 UK attracts students and creates demand which is very attractive to 바카라사이트 private sector,¡± she said. ¡°Universities can provide valuable information as to what students want and need. They also have a key role into providing information as to 바카라사이트 student population.¡±

Responding to a question from 바카라사이트 audience at 바카라사이트 Westminster Higher Education Forum event, she said 바카라사이트 ¡°frustration from 바카라사이트 private sector is 바카라사이트y would very much welcome university support¡­in whatever form it takes¡±.

Several o바카라사이트r speakers at 바카라사이트 conference on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 student housing market also said that universities were far too reticent in conversing with private providers. Heriberto Cuanalo, chief executive of accommodation consultancy Collegiate AC, said it could be to 바카라사이트 financial benefit of universities to enter such conversations.

¡°By having a university involved, 바카라사이트 finance costs to a developer will probably come down, and even something as loose as a marketing agreement will influence that tremendously. So we need to try and have more dialogue,¡± he said.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com