Student digs (From The Argus)

Student digs

12:18pm Friday 31st October 2008

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I am pleased that the council scrutiny committee has launched an investigation into the increasing number of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) and the issue of “studentification”, as it has become known (The Argus, October 21).

I was on the panel at the meeting called by the Elm Grove Area Residents Action Group on October 15 to represent MP David Lepper.

Nearly 90 residents attended to tell us about the problems of noise at night, rubbish, lack of external maintenance and the over-development of properties.

Residents felt the addition of loft conversions and conservatories to increase living space was intrusive.

The action group was keen to point out it is not anti-student.

After all, students contribute to sustaining communities by using local shops, pubs and public transport.

But residents feel strongly that their quality of life is being affected and wish to see the situation managed.

It is now essential that Brighton and Hove City Council develops a student housing strategy in conjunction with the residents, universities and private landlords. The recent Government report on HMOs outlines possible responses.

The council can prevent new enclaves by considering changes to the “use classes order” planning rules, allowing for HMOs to be brought under greater council control. This has already been adopted in Northern Ireland.

They can cap and control the distribution and the dispersal of HMOs by using the local planning system to set up areas of restraint, which have been shown to help balance communities.

Nottingham has already established a threshold of 25% per neighbourhood.

I met with Caroline Flint in September, when she was Housing Minister, to discuss this issue and she was determined to do resolve the situation, even if further legislation was required.

If the council’s existing powers are insufficient they owe it to residents to tell the Government what they need and quickly.

Nancy Platts, Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion

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