Interim Planning Guidance on Purpose Built Student Housing

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Newcastle is a major centre for learning. Newcastle University, Northumbria University and Newcastle College all have ambitious master plans for growth. Such a concentration of knowledge-based institutions is a feature of successful cities and a key characteristic of a strong city and regional economy. The city’s student population brings many benefits including adding life and vitality to an area; supporting local businesses; and benefiting inner city urban areas.

As the universities and college grow, the Council seeks to accommodate the growth in student numbers and harness the many benefits this brings. There are a number of initiatives to address the issue of student housing in the city, including a forthcoming Supplementary Planning Document which aims to secure Areas of Shared Housing Mix.

This document deals specifically with meeting the identified need for new purpose built student housing.It has been produced in order to promote the development of a range of purpose built student housing schemes in suitable, sustainable locations throughout the city. The document identifies around 50 potential development sites to address the need for additional student bed spaces in the city.

The Interim Planning Guidance will be reviewed and monitored to look at the sites, measure the number of additional bed spaces created and to consider the potential impacts new accommodation may be having on the wider housing market.

The guidance is accompanied by a Fact Sheet: Student Growth and Estimated Need for Purpose Built Student Bed Spaces (October 2007). The Council will work with the Universities and College to review and update this document.

Following consultation on a draft of the guidance, a summary feedback report has been prepared alongside a full feedback report - 'Written Representations, Response and Resulting Changes'.

(It should be noted that the IPG is in A4 and A3 format. For printing purposes if you require an A4 version you will need to select in your printing options - 'Scale to Fit'. (Appendix G: Site Plans and Accessibility Map form part of the IPG but are presented as seperate PDF files)