Student flats developers in Nottingham could be made to contribute to new affordable housing under plans being considered by the city council.
The council says it has seen a big rise in the number of planning applications for accommodation to meet demand from the city鈥檚 approximately 52,500 students.
In the current academic year 2,000 new student flats and bedrooms will be added to the supply, with developers telling council officials they expect demand for new schemes to continue.
Nottingham City Council says its Supplementary Planning Document, which went through a public consultation last year, will help improve the balance of housing types across the city by using Section 106 agreements to get developers to pay for more family homes.
The agreements are negotiated as part of the planning process for big schemes, to mitigate the impact of a new development on the local community, contributing to things such as employment and training, educational services, open spaces, transport and infrastructure.
The city council鈥檚 existing local plan requires 10 per cent of all new residential developments of between 10-14 homes to be affordable housing, and 20 per cent for schemes of 15 homes or more.
The new planning document 鈥 which goes before the council鈥檚 executive board for approval on Tuesday May, 18 鈥 will provide a new mechanism to bring student schemes in line with that requirement for general housing.
It would mean developers putting up 50-74 bed spaces would make a 10 per cent contribution to affordable homes, while those putting up 75-plus bed spaces would make a 20 per cent contribution.
Coun Linda Woodings, portfolio holder for planning, housing and heritage, said: 鈥淥ur two universities are vital for the city鈥檚 economy, especially now, as the city recovers from Covid-19.
鈥淭hey are important in terms of the investment they bring and the jobs they support and create, as well as helping to teach and train our future doctors, nurses, scientists and teachers.
鈥淲e understand there鈥檚 a perception that there鈥檚 too much student accommodation in the city, but actually, developers are currently only just keeping pace with demand and of course other housing types continue to be planned and built in the city.
鈥淧urpose Built Student Accommodation is an essential part of Nottingham鈥檚 housing market 鈥 allowing students to live in the right accommodation and locations for them while freeing up much-needed family housing 鈥 but as new schemes come forward, the City Council wants to ensure that they contribute towards the city鈥檚 affordable housing needs.
鈥淣ottingham residents are in need of affordable housing, and the financial contributions from these schemes can help us build new affordable homes to meet that demand.鈥
