Planning officers have controversially recommended approving the application for planning permission for the development, despite an investigation into the site, which uncovered evidence of significant arsenic, polycyclic hydrocarbon and chromium levels. Amongst the diseases and conditions that have been linked with exposure to these substances are cancer, birth defects and asthma. However the report published by the planning office stated:

“It is not unusual for contaminated land to be redeveloped. The key question is whether the site can be safely remediated,” adding:

“The advice is that this can be achieved.”

The development has also met with opposition from local residents, due to concerns about noise disturbances, the height of the buildings and the limited number of parking spaces. Two petitions and in excess of 70 written objections have been sent to the council, but planning officers have argued that the development will benefit the town by boosting local businesses and attracting greater numbers of students. However, if the development receives council approval Border Construction will have to commit to financing improvements to the area’s cycle paths and open spaces.

Student Housing Services has been targeting students in York through flyer advertisements posted in letterboxes, but the company is not on the list of University-approved private letting agencies, nor is it registered at Companies House. Amongst those students and landlords currently dealing with the agency, there have been stories of basic repairs and maintenance remaining uncompleted and rent paid out by students not being received by landlords. One student currently renting a property let by the company, stated:

“The whole experience has just been one of incompetence; we have had to constantly ring her regarding things being wrong. If I could give advice to anyone it would be to stay clear, get housing through the University and make sure you do your research.”

Furthering the suspicions about the company’s legitimacy is the lack of proper contact details. The inability of one student to contact the agency, over an emergency concerning the property, led them to ask Access Properties to contact the agency. Students in the area are now being warned both by Access Properties York and the University to utilise the latter’s service for checking contracts before signing a lease.

The submission of the plans to the local council follows a period of consultation conducted by Downing with area residents, in which the company sought community feedback before completing the final revisions of the development plans. Amongst the changes made to the plans following the discussions with residents is the increase in the size of the swimming pool from 20 metres to 25. The desire to liaise with local residents indicates how keen the company is to succeed with what would be its first housing development in the capital, a desire that has also seen Downing collaborate with the Borough Council of Lambeth, the Greater London Authority and the Commission for Architecture, in order to facilitate planning permission.

A spokesperson for Downing stated that the company hopes that the decision to place the swimming pool at street level in the block, where it will be visible via the South Lambeth Road, will lead to “an animated street scene.” The intention behind this is to support businesses based in the area by bringing more people in, while also helping to solve the chronic nationwide shortage in student housing.

The centre was given a £500,000 grant by Biffaward in November, which is being used to refurbish the building by installing a café, sound and light systems, a stage and mezzanine flooring, but now the community interest business in charge of the centre has to find a further £300,000 in order to make it viable. They aim to try and raise money by means of a “crowd funding” initiative, whereby those interested contribute money in exchange for Peel-related memorabilia.

Amongst those most likely to be interested in such a scheme are students, who made up a significant section of Peel’s audience base, and who continue to hold him in fond regard. However the ability of students to donate is likely to be limited by their own present financial constraints. A promotional film to support the scheme has been made by Eye Film and TV, and their managing director – Charlie Gauvain – acknowledged the difficulties in reaching the target:

“We’ve been amazed by the goodwill,” he stated, before adding:

“To make it to £25,000, some major things have got to happen.”

They have been backed by staff from the East Oxford Primary, who have suggested that the school is in the process of being surrounded by student housing, with the planned entrance to the new housing complex being through the school’s car park. The head teacher of East Oxford Primary, Susan Widgery, has written to the council, expressing concern over the safety of children, if the development goes ahead. She stated:

“We have concerns about health and safety in general. There is very poor access to the car park anyway, and it seems inappropriate to us that there should be a building of this size there without its own access.”

Parents have also expressed serious reservations over the development, on the grounds that the lifestyles of students are liable to come into conflict with the needs of children attending the school. Tracy Byatt, whose child attends East Oxford Primary, said:

“I live round students all the time, and there are problems with rubbish and noise, even in the day time.”

Twelve of the city’s councillors have supported the move to call-in the original decision in favour of the development.

Already the councillor in charge of green issues, Roger Knight, has visited one such property, in McIntyre Road. One of the student residents of the flat, James Rawlings, said:

“I think it is very important for students to join in the campaign as the student population is very large so we have a huge impact on the environment. We should all do as much as we can and make other people aware of how easy it is to recycle.”

The scale of the student population in Worcester is one of the major reasons for the decision by the local council to focus so much of the campaign on them. Students can potentially contribute over 45 tonnes of recycled material per year, which would represent a significant portion of the council’s waste recycling target of 38 percent. A spokeswoman for the council stated that they had already witnessed a significant rise in recycling within student halls, which it is hoped will now transfer to those in private accommodation. A Facebook competition offering Amazon vouchers to the winner has been set up to further attract students.

It is hoped that the proposals, which have now been given the full green light by the Bolton City Council planning department, could help to regenerate the city centre of Bolton, with the mass arrival of students in the area giving it a financial kick start. The businesses in the centre of the city, particularly the pubs, clubs and off-licenses have been struggling in the wake of the recession, and at present three quarters of all properties in the area of the new development – Nelson Street – are unused, with the hotel where the new development is to be built, presently derelict. A spokesman for the planning committee, Cllr David Wilkinson said:

“It is a good use of the hotel. The licensing trade is struggling at the moment so it will be a big boost for the night time economy.”

He added that, with the success being experienced by the city’s university, the additional student accommodation would fulfil a clear need. The new accommodation block, being developed by Forshaw Land and Planning Ltd, will be fully soundproofed, but will feature an on-site bar, ensuring that there will no issues concerning licensing.

The idea has, unsurprisingly, been given short shrift by those who are reliant on the tourist trade for their businesses, such as those running Cambridge hotels. The general manager of one such establishment dismissed the idea, pointing out that the popularity of the city as a destination for tourists was the backbone of Cambridge’s economy. Amongst one of the other types of temporary resident in the city – students – the notion has sparked a mixed response.

Some students have expressed enthusiasm for the idea, noting that it would reduce the current congestion problems caused by pedestrian tourists blocking the cycle lanes, while it would also leave more of city’s accommodation available for students. This latter issue is of particular relevance, as Cambridge, like other cities, has struggled to find sufficient housing to meet student demand. However others have criticised the plan, including Churchill College student Alison Davies:

“Tourists are an intrinsic part of Cambridge and stopping them from coming will only put people out of business. The council ought to embrace the city’s appeal and think of better ways to manage tourists rather than drive them away.”

Furthermore, the study also showed that 54% were living in accommodation where the gas boiler lacked safety certification, despite the fact that it is a breach of regulations for landlords to rent properties without this. These results have been greeted with concern by the National Grid, which has stated that it believes students are unaware of the very real dangers to their health and safety, which a faulty gas boiler can lead to.

Sarah Harris, the National Grid’s Senior Communications Officer stated:

“They are concerned about having a big bedroom, a double bed and being close to the pub, but what they are not concerned about is their own safety.”

The lack of awareness and concern amongst students about the potentially fatal consequences of faulty gas boilers – including possible carbon monoxide poisoning – is what is allowing unscrupulous student property landlords to get away with health and safety negligence. The report has indicated a need for students to be made more aware of the threat to their health this issue poses.

The next stage in the planned development is for the scheme to be sanctioned by local development chiefs. The location for the student housing will be at the junction between Huntingdon Road and Histon road, formerly the site of a Texaco garage, and presently that of a car wash. In 2009 architects voted the site one of the ugliest parts of Cambridge and it is hoped that the development will improve the image of the area.

Among the changes made is a redesigned roof which will reduce the building’s height. Additional alterations include a simplification of the window design and that of the exterior stone cladding. Toby Williams, planning officer for the development, stated that he felt that they had addressed the problems with the plans:

“The materials are refined, the window positioning and proportions regularised and improved and roofscape amended to more closely relate to the character of the area.”

However there are still concerns being expressed about the plans. The issue of whether the housing should be available to students not studying at either Anglia Ruskin or Cambridge University remains to be resolved – as does local opposition, on traffic and noise grounds.