Property Developers:

• In developing policies, the provision for new PBSA and their locations should be balanced with the need to promote other types of housing to ensure long term retention of talent.
• Agreement with the principle to focus PBSA within close vicinity of the University campuses, but the proposal to only consider development of new accommodation in such locations is too rigid and does not provide the flexibility needed for the lifetime of the Local Plan.
• The requirement for PBSA should not undermine the need to secure mixed and inclusive neighbourhoods.
• Agreed that an approach for the delivery of affordable PBSA should be included within the policy, but the suggestion needs further consideration.

Higher Education Establishments

• The reports fail to recognise complexities of the overall student population which includes international, under-graduate, postgraduate, mature, living at home, parent students and part-time students.
• The requirement for clarification of the geographical definition of the Oxford Road Corridor and the need to work in collaboration to agree locations suitable for PBSA development.
• Welcomed the consultation document's reference to the need for affordable accommodation, they disagreed with the suggestion of implementing a similar protocol as the London Plan.

Recent PBSA Appeals

3.17. As set out above, MCC's Core Strategy Policy H12 applies a set of criteria which includes a requirement for developers to demonstrate that there is a need for student accommodation. The policy goes on to set a range of criteria which includes a requirement for new PBSA to be provided in locations within close proximity to the University Campuses or high frequency public transport routes that pass by.

3.18. Against the context, a recent PBSA application at Deansgate South was able to successfully challenge the LPA’s evidence that need could be met within a defined spatial area in close proximity to the University Campuses. Indeed, the Planning Inspector concluded that “it is not certain that there are enough schemes in the pipeline to meet PBSA demand over the next few years.”

3.19. In a further, more recent appeal decision (188 Wilmslow Road), whilst the council was successful overall, the Planning Inspector does however conclude that: “The Council has also sought to demonstrate that it has a sufficient supply of PBSA in the pipeline to cater for the need. A number of these sites though do not have planning permission, based on what I was told at the hearing. Accordingly, there is limited assurance at the present time that such sites would proceed.”

Current Position

3.20. It is understood that MCC does not support the view that there is not sufficient supply and would like to enhance their evidence base in order to demonstrate that sufficient potential PBSA sites are readily available and deliverable over a time, in line with demand, and consistent with a defined locational area that is focused on the Oxford Road Corridor (in close proximity to the University Campuses).

University Feedbacks

University of Manchester

3.21. UoM has indicated a need for an extra 4,000 bedspaces based on their requirements with an emphasis on proximity to university campus, promoting student wellbeing through design and support facilities and delivering PBSA at a range of price points accessible to all of their students.