Extent of student accommodation plans revealed

Hundreds of new rooms are in the pipeline and even more land could be allocated for student digs in the future.

We have mapped the location of a string of current planned blocks, containing hundreds of rooms.

Many fear it will lead to “unbalanced communities” and claim the trust between city planners and residents has been broken.

The influx of applications comes at a time when Oxford Brookes University has said it is reducing its numbers in the city.

Many of the proposed rooms would be used by those att-ending language colleges.

Amanda Whiting was one of a group of Mill Street residents who last week successfully opposed plans for a 74-room block in Osney Lane.

She believed the arrival of large halls of residence could completely change a neighbourhood.

“Developments should be in the city centre, not in small local communities,” she said.

“It has too much of an impact.”

Sarah Wild, of Iffley Fields Residents’ Association, said Oxford was a proud university city, but the balance of development had swung too far in favour of students.

“People commute from all over the place to work in Oxford. Surely we need homes for these people.”

Behind the rising number of student halls applications is an Oxford City Council drive to get more undergraduates into purpose-built blocks. The authority is struggling to balance the need for family housing with the pressures of student accommodation.

And it believes halls are the way to tackle the problems of congestion and noise, and free up family homes in the private rented sector.

The authority has a planning policy that says both universities must have fewer than 3,000 students in private houses before they can expand research facilities.

Executive member for housing Joe McManners said the policy was the right one to pursue, but it was too early to tell if it was working.

He said halls were a more efficient use of land adding: “It frees up private housing and takes students away from residential streets, something residents wanted.”

He said new planning rules were being developed that would require developers of student halls to provide cash to build affordable family homes elsewhere in the city.

“We’re absolutely clear that providing more family and social housing is critical,” he added.

According to recent figures Oxford University has met the 3,000 target and Brookes is very close.

But residents’ groups say the council policy is flawed.

Earlier this year, Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association (Drara) revealed universities were struggling to impose the “no cars” rule at halls because the DVLA would no longer provide information.

Drara member Sietske Boeles said: “We are losing trust in the city council. They keep allowing student accommodation against the wishes of residents. We are losing the balance in our communities and it is causing anger and frustration.”

Meanwhile, a major plan for 29 student flats at an “eyesore” in the heart of Oxford has been submitted to city planners.

Eckersley Oxford language school wants to build a part four- and part seven-storey building next door to the college in Friars Entry, by Gloucester Green. The block would fill a gap behind a fence in Friars Entry, demolishing an electricity sub station.

The college’s planning applications says it will block the “unattractive” view of Debenhams from Gloucester Green, branding the site “derelict and an eyesore”.

It adds: “It needs to be filled with a building which contributes positively to the area.”

Trevor Bennett, owner of the Organic Deli Cafe, opposite the site, said: “It will have a positive impact, it being a thoroughfare between Gloucester Green and the bus stops.”

David Patalong, co-landlord of the Far From The Madding Crowd pub, said: “It is a positive thing, if it works I’m more than happy.”

Construction would be in Red Lion Square, a cul-de-sac next to Friars Entry, over 12 months.

Mr Bennett raised concerns about deliveries to a loading bay at the bottom of Red Lion Square, under Debenhams. He said: “The construction is going to be a nightmare.”

He learned of the plan from the Oxford Mail as Oxford City Council stopped sending notification letters to those living near proposed developments in April to save cash.

The council said applications can be seen online.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Peter Thompson said: “It will be a better view. The back end of Debenhams is not a thing of beauty.”

But he raised fears of rowdy student behaviour.

Planning consultant Julian Philcox, speaking on behalf of the college, said of deliveries: “We will have to work around existing users.”

The scheme would take pressure off private rented accommodation and students would be mature and “wordly wise and sensible”, he said.