Re-contextualising purpose-built student accommodation in secondary cities: The role of planning policy, consultation and economic need during austerity

Julia Heslop, Josh Chambers, James Maloney, George Spurgeon, Hannah Swainston and Hannah Woodall
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Julia Heslop: Newcastle University, UK
Josh Chambers: Independent Researcher, UK
James Maloney: Planning Officer, London Borough of Ealing
George Spurgeon: Independent Researcher, UK
Hannah Swainston: Planner, Quod
Hannah Woodall: Planner, Pegasus Group

Urban Studies, 2023, vol. 60, issue 5, 923-940

Abstract: The rise of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) has become a dominant feature of many secondary cities over the last decade. These cities often have weaker property markets than ‘primary’ or capital cities and often rely on the ‘knowledge economy’ to drive economic and urban development. A growing body of work has explored the effects of ‘new-build studentification’ and its relationship to economic crisis and the financialisation of housing. Less attention has been paid to how the localised political and economic impacts of austerity led to the creation of particular planning policies and actions to facilitate PBSA. Through a case study of a housing estate in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, whose ward has seen a 467% increase in student housing numbers, this article highlights that student housing is shaped not merely by issues of supply and demand but also often by planning practice and local economic demands. Whilst we recognise that PBSA development is also reliant on particular global economic conditions and investment strategies, this article calls for a more relational, contextual approach to examining PBSA. We pay specific attention to local political and institutional actors and their policies, working practices and social constructs amidst austerity.

Keywords: austerity; community consultation; planning policy; purpose-built student accommodation; studentification; 紧缩; 社区咨询; 规划政策; ä¸“è®¾å­¦ç”Ÿä½ å®¿; 学生化 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:60:y:2023:i:5:p:923-940

DOI: 10.1177/00420980221121569

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