Nottingham’s council leader insists there are enough student homes already. She aims to prioritize family housing in the Broad Marsh development instead.
Nottingham: The leader of the city council, Neghat Khan, has made a big promise. She says there won’t be any more student homes at Broad Marsh because the city has enough already.
This news has brought relief to many residents. The final plans for Broad Marsh will be shared in March, and people are eager to see what’s next.
Khan wants to see more families and working-class folks living in the area. She believes it’s important to avoid having too many students in one place.
In 2023, the council introduced a strategy to encourage students to live in purpose-built accommodations instead of regular homes. They’ve got plans for over 10,000 new student beds.
One project on Alfreton Road will have around 790 beds ready by September. Khan is now pushing for fewer student housing projects to be approved.
At a recent meeting, opposition leader Kevin Clarke asked for a commitment to prioritize permanent homes at Broad Marsh. Khan agreed, saying they’ve got enough student housing in the city center.
She emphasized the need for more family homes to help grow the local economy. The Broad Marsh site is conveniently located near the train station, making it ideal for commuters.
Half of the old shopping center has already been torn down for a new green space. The plan is to create a mixed-use area with 1,600 new homes and plenty of commercial space.
Hilary Silvester from the Nottingham Civic Society expressed her relief at Khan’s commitment. She’s glad to hear that the focus will shift away from student housing.
There’s still some uncertainty about the remaining shopping center demolition. Previous funding bids didn’t go through, but the East Midlands Mayor has stepped in with over £3 million to help.
Khan expects this funding to be approved by the end of March. The council is working on finalizing plans for the Broad Marsh site, which is crucial for Nottingham’s future.
