Pledge to provide quality student accommodation in Hartlepool

Discussions on future student accommodation plans for the town took place between councillors at the council Finance and Policy Committee earlier this month.

Council bosses stressed they do have an ambition to provide high quality student accommodation in the town, as mentioned in the recent council plan talks.

It was noted there are several options for potential new student accommodation developments which would need to be explored by the council.

This includes a private sector development, either independently or with council support, or a potential development by the council itself.

Councillors on the Regeneration Services Committee have already called for an options appraisal to be undertaken by the council on providing new high-quality student accommodation.

Council leader, Coun Shane Moore, said they were committed to providing more student accommodation but it cannot be rushed and they must look at all options.

He said: “There is a commitment to provide good quality student accommodation but it cannot be rushed. We have to look at all options, we cannot just look at one option.”

Coun John Tennant added: “We do have an ambition towards it, but I think it’s also important that we do not rush it through.”

Related: How new Hartlepool student village on former Engineers Club site will look

It was previously mentioned by council officers they would look to provide more student accommodation as part of a future town centre masterplan.

Coun Christopher Akers-Belcher, chair of the Regeneration Services Committee, said an options appraisal for better student accommodation needs to be looked at now and they cannot wait.

He said: “We decided in regeneration as a committee that did not want to wait for student accommodation as part of the Town Deal, it was too late.

“We have over 100 properties across the whole of Hartlepool where we have students living in poor private sector accommodation and in squalor which is not conducive to good education.

“If we address this now, all those properties would actually be brought back into use as social housing, for which we would receive council tax for.”

A report which went before councillors from council director of finance and policy Chris Little said there ‘isn’t a shortfall in student accommodation’ currently in the town.

However it was recommended a ‘strategic planning alliance’ be established in the town to monitor the situation and any increases in students among education providers, principally The Northern School of Art.

Future talks are due to take place over student accommodation needs in Hartlepool when council meetings resume following their postponement due to the coronavirus.

We reported earlier how council meetings have been cancelled as part of efforts to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Leisure facilities, venues and businesses have all announced they are closing down after drastic social-distancing measures were announced by the Prime Minister on Monday.

It has now been announced that schools in the UK will close on Friday March 20, but provision will be made for the children of key workers.