In section 3.37, there is a focus on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). There has been several failures of this in the past, namely developers being granted permission for PBSA and then applying for a change of use. We must recognise that student housing is housing, and should be help to the same standard as any other housing. We must ensure access to Green Spaces for students, who are often packed into small apartments with many other students. This housing should also be publically owned. Often the target market for this specific accomadation is first year students or international students, who are often charged extortionate prices by private companies and the education institutions. We must move towards social student housing, that is adequately regulated to prevent such high rents. These rents are usually inline with other private accomadation, however because students are often not treated as equals to other types of tenants, the accomadation is usually at a lower standard.
An emphasis to get students out of private houses that could other wise be rented to professionals and familys, demonises students, and increases the frictions between local communities and students. We should be working to intergrate students into the local communties, as they are part of the community. Segrating them in designated student housing will damage community relations. It is a lack of general affordable and social housing which is the real issue.
The City should also be providing support for student cooperative owned housing.
More social and affordable housing, whether it be for students or people in general.
We have a housing crisis which is tearing our communities apart. It is also an issue of access to education. So many people are locked out of education due to the cost of housing.