1. Town and Gown Relations: The Opportunities Dr Darren P. Smith Reader in Human Geography University of Brighton, UK Built Estates Conference London 15 th May 2008

2. Structure: setting the context The ‘challenges’ of studentification Dispersal of students away from existing concentrations Better management of students housing and populations (e.g. Unipol, Nottingham) Realising the opportunities of studentification An opportunity for Universities’ Built Estates?

3. The breakdown of ‘town and gown’relations? Dramatic rise of student populations (< mid-90s) No urban policy to accommodate rising numbers of students Students accommodated in unregulated / unplanned ways by private sector (HMO) Results = Studentification ‘ [Studentification is] the social and environmental changes caused by very large numbers of students living in particular areas of a town or city ’ ( Macmillan English Dictionary, 2003).

4. Acknowledging the issue Studentification: A Guide To Opportunities, Challenges and Practices Commissioned / published by: UniversitiesUK/SCOP Funded by: DfES & ODPM, LGA Launched: UUK conference January 2006 Parliamentary launch: 27 th June 2006 Remit: To scope and assess the scale and nature of the challenges associated with large concentrations of student populations –GEOGRAPHIES OF STUDENTIFICATION To identify current practice to address these [high concentrations of students] through consideration of some case studies –BETTER MANAGEMENT

5. Remit of project (A missed opportunity?) What can be done / what is being done in the current legislative context? Not provide a critique of current legislation To illuminate non-legislative, non- regulatory solutions to challenges of studentification To focus on the negative effects of high concentrations of students

6. The response: addressing the challenges The dispersal of students away from existing over-concentrations (studentified areas) Halting the intensity of concentrations of students The proliferation of purpose-built student accommodation by the private sector (Unite, Opal) The refurbishment / upgrade of university- maintained / -managed student accommodation

7. The ‘second-wave’ of studentification?

8. Purpose-built student accommodation The solution to: enhance the quality and management of student accommodation regulate the behaviour of some (anti-social) students solve refuse collection issues, etc (re)turn student areas to family housing control student leisure & recreation spaces (i.e. bars) reduce use of private vehicles and on-street parking circulate information leaflets and enhance communication with students about behaviour, etc Increase electoral voting, etc...

9. A changing context of opportunities A changing private rented / HMO market Housing Act (licensing) Use Classes Order Areas of Housing Mix (AoHm) Student accommodation included in Local Housing Strategies/LDF Changing preferences of students

10. A changing context of opportunities What are the key themes / trends? Studentification continues to unfold Destudentification (which social groups replace the students) Gentrification of student areas

11. The first-wave persists and is unfolding An international phenomena Town and Gown Association of Ontario (TGAO) Carlton Residents Group, Melbourne

12. Destudentification Definition (?) – ‘the decline of a student area due to the out-migration of student landlords and students’ - ‘We want the student’s back!’ (e.g. Coventry, Birmingham, Brighton) - ‘We don’t want the asylum seekers or the migrant workers’

13. Recognising the opportunities Engagement with the politics of studentification APPG for Balanced and Sustainable Communities Councillors Campaign for Balanced Communites NUS National HMO Lobby

14. What is the role of university accommodation? Thinking ‘outside the box’? ‘Accommodation package’ is included in the tuition fee (The ‘student experience’)? Student rents a bed-space for the full- term of their ‘student experience’ Reduce transience? Increase attachment to local neighbourhood? Increase the sense of belonging to broader community? Less ‘moving-’ & ‘searching for accommodation-related’ stress for students

15. What is the role of university accommodation? More effectively ‘protect’ and ‘nurture’ balanced communities = student populations The mission for providers of student accommodation: Woven into economic regeneration schemes Matches the preferences of students Provides affordable rents and high-quality student accommodation Integrated into established communities in sensitive ways Does not ‘ghettoise’ students in gated-communities Managed in effective ways (refuse, car parking, noise nuisance, volunteering, active citizens, green transport) Is this happening?

16. Student accommodation to address deeper challenges? Childless cities and towns (Peter Hall, 2007) Lack of family or affordable housing (housing crisis) Increasing segregation of society Proliferation of gated communities ‘Ghettoisation’ of social groups Breakdown of community cohesion Decreasing levels of social capital Deterioration of urban environment Homogenisation of built environment with ‘private sector footprint’