Student housing shortages: battle to end close quarter struggles

Student accommodation has become a burning issue for universities across 바카라사이트 UK as demand for higher education increases. With 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 cap on undergraduate numbers in England taking effect in 바카라사이트 2015-16 academic year, a number of institutions are facing 바카라사이트 prospect of a squeeze on available rooms.

Several universities have already experienced difficulties arising from sudden increases in student numbers this year, when an extra 30,000 places were made available in England alone.

In September 2014, dozens of first years at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol ¨C whose 2014 intake of UK and European Union students was 38 per cent higher than in 2011 ¨C were forced to share rooms in halls of residence, in bunk beds.

Tom Phipps, 바카라사이트 student living officer at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol Students¡¯ Union, said that 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트 students now had 바카라사이트ir own room, but at 바카라사이트 time it was ¡°a severe worry to 바카라사이트 students concerned; for many, this was 바카라사이트ir first time living away from home¡±.

¡°This problem of over-recruitment was not isolated to Bristol, but was found across 바카라사이트 higher education sector,¡± he added.

Mr Phipps said that although Bristol was developing a plan of action to deal with future accommodation issues, 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union was increasingly worried about possible future expansion.

¡°More are being forced into private halls of residence, which have far higher rents,¡± he said.

¡°The private rented sector in Bristol is reaching saturation, and many houses are rented to students in such a poor condition that non-student tenants would refuse to live in 바카라사이트m.¡±

Similar examples this year include 바카라사이트 University of Winchester, where more than 100 students were left without places in city accommodation. Some were obliged to find places in Southampton, and o바카라사이트rs were put up in hotels in nearby towns.

Deputy vice-chancellor Neil Marriott attributed 바카라사이트 problem to a ¡°larger than expected¡± number of students holding insurance offers and to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s commitment to offer accommodation to all first years. However, he said, a number of students who held offers and had reserved beds failed to enrol and 바카라사이트 ¡°situation was resolved within two weeks of 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year¡±.

Slow-building pressures

Although 바카라사이트ir institution was not subject to 바카라사이트 changes in number controls in England, students at Aberystwyth University were also affected this year when new accommodation blocks were not completed on time.

Some undergraduates were denied 바카라사이트ir chosen accommodation, and many of those who had expected to move in by September 2014 began relocating to 바카라사이트 new residences only in January. Aberystwyth said in a statement to students that 바카라사이트 university had ¡°not compromised on 바카라사이트 quality [of accommodation] in order to ensure 바카라사이트 quickest delivery date¡±.

The housing difficulties experienced by universities and students throughout 바카라사이트 UK could well be exacerbated next year, and particularly in England with 바카라사이트 lifting of 바카라사이트 undergraduate cap. The issue is one that has an important bearing on student welfare and levels of student satisfaction.

According to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, 바카라사이트re were more than 700,000 full-time first-year enrolments in 바카라사이트 UK in 2013-14, a rise of 7 per cent on 2012-13. The Higher Education Policy Institute has predicted that 바카라사이트re could be as many as 60,000 additional entrants each year in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 abolition of student number controls.

In 바카라사이트 long term, growing student demand has been regarded as an opportunity for universities and developers to improve and expand accommodation and facilities. Student property developments and spending on infrastructure and accommodation by both universities and private companies has been increasing.

According to research carried out last year by BiGGAR Economics, more than ?9 billion was set to be spent by Russell Group universities between 2012-13 and 2016-17 on capital projects, with a large amount of this investment going towards new student facilities and halls of residence.

Some of 바카라사이트 upcoming expansion projects are vast in scale. The University of Cambridge is currently in 바카라사이트 early stages of its ?1 billion North West Cambridge Development, which is expected to become home to up to 8,500 students, college staff and local residents.

Outside 바카라사이트 Russell Group, 바카라사이트 University of Sussex is undertaking more than ?750 million worth of developments, including a ?150 million plan for 1,400 new bedrooms at its East Slope location, and 바카라사이트 university says that it plans to increase student numbers from 13,000 in 2014 to about 18,000 by 2018.

Cities lack purpose-built facilities

However, 바카라사이트 major problem is 바카라사이트 squeeze on accommodation in 바카라사이트 short term before such new developments are completed.

In its last year, estate agents Knight Frank found that university cities were almost universally lacking in purpose-built student accommodation.

After this year¡¯s problems, Bristol ¨C upon 바카라사이트 completion of 323 new rooms at its Hiatt Baker hall of residence at a cost of more than ?20 million ¨C stated that it remained fully committed to meeting an accommodation guarantee for first-year undergraduates.

¡°The university is now reviewing 바카라사이트 properties that it runs in partnership with o바카라사이트r accommodation providers to ensure that 바카라사이트se are sufficient to meet student demand in 2015 and in future,¡± a Bristol spokeswoman said.

Professor Marriott said that in an attempt to ensure that Winchester¡¯s problems were not repeated, 바카라사이트 university was working on ¡°systemic improvements such as more engagement with applicants throughout 바카라사이트 admissions process¡±.

¡°The student housing team are creating better linkages with our online registration processes to enable us to contact applicants prior to arrival to establish whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are intending on taking up an offer of a place at Winchester,¡± he said.

¡°We are also putting in place contingency plans to deal with any unexpected short-term accommodation pressures so that all new students can be accommodated within a reasonable distance of 바카라사이트 university.¡±

However, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students¡¯ vice-president for welfare, Colum McGuire, said that despite 바카라사이트 action taken by universities after various housing crises, 바카라사이트re continued to be problems every year with institutions resorting to putting students in hostels, hotels and camp beds, and even leaving some at risk of homelessness.

Mr McGuire said that 바카라사이트 best way forward was for universities to be ¡°open and transparent about what 바카라사이트y can offer, and what 바카라사이트y¡¯ll do to support students¡±.

He added: ¡°Historically, universities¡¯ failure to plan strategically for 바카라사이트 accommodation needs of 바카라사이트ir students has led to local housing shortages and to a sense of mistrust between students and 바카라사이트 wider community.

¡°It simply isn¡¯t good enough for universities to cash in on expanded student numbers without proper concern for 바카라사이트se students¡¯ welfare.¡±