City plans to encourage students to move from HMOs to PBSA
A city council is to consult on plans that will encourage students to move from traditional HMO dwellings and into purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) instead.
The public consultation, which also includes a plan for boosting the energy efficiency of new PBSA blocks, will begin shortly.
The council says that by promoting diverse student housing options, more students will choose PBSA over housing in residential areas.
Councillors were told this would 'help balance' the city's communities.
'Sustainable student housing market'
The portfolio holder for planning at Nottingham City Council, Cllr Jay Hayes, said: "These new planning documents aim to set a framework for high-quality, innovative student housing, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable student housing market in Nottingham.
"We are committed to creating environments that enhance the overall student living experience and by providing additional student accommodation, it should allow for more balanced communities to be created within the city."
He added that Nottingham is planning to be carbon neutral by 2028 and the planning aims will help developers support this ambition.
Mr Hayes said: "New developments are a must for a thriving city, but they need to be fit for purpose and sustainable, not just in their construction but in the years to come after they are built."
The changing needs of students
The council's PBSA planning document offers guidance to ensure new student flats meet the changing needs of students.
There are clear guidelines for developers to replicate a 'shared housing' lifestyle by creating cluster flats so students can share with friends.
The plan lays down a requirement that 80% of the beds in new student builds must be in cluster flats - and 20% will be studio flats.
The council says that demand for PBSAs in Nottingham has increased after various schemes were completed in the city.
It says that students prefer these flats 'over private rented housing in local communities'.
New PBSA schemes meet minimum standards
Nottingham City Council is also planning that new PBSA schemes meet minimum standards and will boost the overall student living experience.
That means proposing minimum room sizes and social spaces.
There will also be guidance for developers to create sustainable developments such as the design and use of the buildings with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
Nottingham's student population is booming with more than 70,000 students - the fourth largest outside London - and only 23,500 PBSA student beds, research from CBRE reveals.
While rents are rising in the region, the price of student accommodation in Nottingham is rising even faster, outpacing student maintenance loans.
A council report in June revealed that nearly half of Nottingham's housing that was built over the past 13 years was for students – 7,311 new units.
'Changes to the student housing landscape'
Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said: "It looks like Nottingham City Council is proposing significant changes to the student housing landscape.
"For student landlords, the most immediate impact will likely come from the push towards PBSA.
"This means increased competition from purpose-built flats offering amenities and communal spaces that traditional HMOs may struggle to match."
He added: "Also, the requirement for a higher proportion of cluster flats within new PBSA developments could affect demand for larger HMO properties.
"But the demand for sustainability, including energy efficiency and sustainable materials, could lead to increased building costs and potentially higher rents for students in PBSA."
