SU Officer brands University comments over affordable housing 'ridiculous'

By Maddy Russell, Second Year Politics & International Relations

Student Living Officer, Vanessa Wilson, has expressed her disappointment over the University's dismissal of suggestions made by the City Council for new student accommodation to offer lower cost spaces.

An investigation by The Tab has revealed that Bristol University has opposed suggestions made by Bristol City Council to include cheaper spaces in new student accommodation.

The news follows plans released by Bristol City Council to implement stronger guidance on the location of student housing developments within the city centre.

As part of its major development plan released in March, Bristol City Council has suggested that a proportion of new university accommodation being built in the city should include lower-cost spaces to meet an ‘identified need’ for cheaper rent amongst some students.

However, a leaked document has revealed that these suggestions were rejected by the University, who requested that the idea be removed from the Council’s proposed plans altogether.

Talking to Epigram, Ruth Day, President of the Cut the Rent Campaign said: ‘The University cannot claim that they are “committed to ensuring... that new student accommodation provided on their estate is both high quality and affordable” when they ignore all efforts to make halls affordable.

‘The University has a duty of care over us, and it is fundamentally letting us down, treating us more so like cash cows than people.

Student Living Officer, Vanessa Wilson, also highlighted the stress that rent has on students, saying: 'Accommodation costs are a massive burden on students and they have a significant impact on their wellbeing. It is ridiculous that the University has disregarded affordable housing in this way.

'It is deeply disappointing and frustrating to see that these comments about affordable housing were made during the council’s consultation.

'Personally, I feel let down as I’ve been working with the University to increase the number of accommodation bursaries available and have been pushing for a rent reduction strategy to be adopted.'

In response the University has also reiterated that it offers an Accommodation Bursary students from low-income areas, and that no profit is made from halls of residence run by the University.

A University of Bristol spokesperson has responded to the news, stating: 'The comments about affordable housing have been taken from a consultation Bristol City Council ran on its Draft Local Plan over a year ago in March 2018. This was just the first iteration of a long process of draft policies which ultimately will be adopted as the new Local Plan by Bristol City Council. The second draft is currently out for consultation and is due to close on 24th May 2019.

'Since the original consultation the University has held constructive meetings with the Council to develop a strategy for student accommodation in the city which enables a sustainable increase in purpose-built student accommodation available at a range of rents.

'This will be achieved by ensuring development comes forward in appropriate locations, avoids harmful impacts on residential areas, preserves the diversity of uses within commercial areas and is balanced with the city’s wider housing requirements.

'It is unlikely that any further purpose-built student accommodation could be built within easy access of the University campus with all rooms offered at an affordable rent due to land prices in the city.

'We appreciate that accommodation is one of the most significant costs that students have to meet, and we are committed to ensuring that University accommodation is available to a full range of budgets and personal requirements.

'To help with this, we offer a number of accommodation bursaries, with £200,000 available overall for the 2019/20 year, in addition to the range of financial packages available to support students from low-income households.'

Featured image: Epigram/ Patrick Sullivan

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