Limits on student housing concentration, noise and litter prompt thorough re-think of future developments
The local Labour Party has announced new proposals to deal with the multiple problems caused to local residents by the uncontrolled development of Houses Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSAs) in Warwick District.
Jonathan Nicholls, leader of the district council Labour group said: “Residents in Leamington are having their lives totally disrupted by noise and litter on their streets because of badly planned developments and a small number of rogue landlords and this can’t go on.”
“We are proposing a limit to the numbers and concentration of Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs)and other purpose-built student accommodation, effective noise control measures, decent size requirements for units, plans to ensure adequate parking and to make sure landlords pay for prompt rubbish clear ups. Most importantly we must make sure we use existing powers to fine landlords who flout the rules on obtaining planning approval and license conditions.”
“We need a long-term solution to create a more balanced community in Leamington and elsewhere in the district where student developments are planned. Our plan, developed in response to concerns of residents, is a comprehensive solution to deal with the environmental problems that plague our streets. We also want to ensure students are living in homes that are built to the best standards and not treated as cash cows by unscrupulous developers and landlords.”
Helen Adkins, the Labour Group Leader on Warwickshire County Council said: “Whilst we welcome the energy, innovation, diversity, and economic prosperity that our local universities and their students bring to Warwick District, we need to take care of residents. Inattention by some landlords in managing these concerns is having a big impact. This plan will address residents’ concerns and improve students living conditions too. As we go forward, we want to work closely with passionate, knowledgeable residents to secure their support for these plans and we are also open to any other ideas to ensure the success of this long-term initiative.”
The plan has the following 10 steps:
- A limit on numbers and concentrations of student housing, including HMOs and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSAs).
- To require PBSAs to be constructed so that, if no longer needed for student use, they can be easily converted back to family or key-worker housing providing living, bathroom, and kitchen space in each dwelling.
- To strengthen measures to control external noise nuisance through a revised planning policy and by requiring the risk to be properly assessed and mitigations agreed as part of both planning and licensing processes.
- To set higher space/ceiling height requirements to ensure that students and other residents enjoy decent housing standards.
- To raise the limit on how far student housing can be concentrated in town centres, but reduce it by the same proportion on quiet residential streets.
- To charge landlords for all additional waste disposal costs incurred in clearing one-off waste nuisances and non-sorted recycling.
- To use existing powers to fine landlords who flout the rules on obtaining planning approval and on license conditions.
- To establish a joint District and County Council parking survey of all areas of parking stress. This will be independently and regularly updated, as a basis for all new planning applications for new HMOs, PBSAs, and other dwellings.
- To extend planning controls on new student housing from Leamington across the other three towns in Warwick District: Kenilworth, Warwick, and Whitnash.
- To encourage more co-location of students with their place of study, working closely with Warwick University. This is a key principle in the National Policy Planning Framework.
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For further information, please contact Cllr Jonathan Nicholls on Jonathan.Nicholls@warwickdc.gov.uk.