Cllr. Ron Armstrong (Liberal Democrat, North Jesmond) is chairing a city council committee which is working on a scheme to develop purpose built student flats in areas such as Gallowgate, Percy Street and Half Moon Yard. Cllr. Armstrong hopes to significantly reduce the student populations in areas such as Jesmond and Heaton, where he has already taken steps to push students out.
The NLA believes if there are resources to build new housing in Newcastle then it should be for the growing number of families who now have to leave the city in order to find appropriate accommodation. It is clear that students do not want to live in ‘student blocks’ and will not choose to live in expensive, purpose built accommodation away from university and college sites.
As one of the most vibrant areas of Newcastle, Jesmond supports a mixed population of families, students and young professionals who, in turn, support a thriving business community. Threatening to move the student population away from Jesmond has been met with fierce opposition from the students themselves as well as community representatives and local businesses.
Johnny Lighten, NLA Regional Organiser, NLA North East, commenting on these latest developments, said: “Mixed communities are vibrant communities. We need to be very careful not to create ghettos where no one wants to live. Jesmond does have some issues, but it is not purely a ‘student problem’. There are lots of young professionals together with young families and older residents who, with the students, make Jesmond a diverse and lively place to live. Cllr. Armstrong seems intent on destroying this. In our view it is entirely contrary to the housing offer of the city.
“Manipulating students into purpose-built blocks shifts the problem and will leave Jesmond, and its local economy, greatly damaged. Where there are issues to do with noise, anti-social behaviour and parking, students should be treated the same as everyone else. But demonising them will not solve the problem.”
Pete Mercer, Student Support Officer, Newcastle University Union Officer, added: “Newcastle City Council’s Housing Strategy is aiming to relocate the student population into designated purpose-built spots, under the argument that there is a shortage of student accommodation. This certainly isn’t true and it’s clear that certain members of the committee that drive these policies are manipulating statistics. This identifies false needs that actually serve to satisfy the personal agendas of particular councillors under a democracy that dismisses any scrutiny or stakeholder representation. This is informed by a retrospective and nostalgic view of inner-city communities past which bears little relation to the current climate.
“Instead of addressing any problems within communities, Councillor Armstrong’s mission to remove and then ghettoise students will devastate an otherwise sustainable and thriving local economy. Moreover, I’m convinced that this kind of social engineering is underpinned by a form of discrimination that wouldn’t be tolerated by any other section of society.”
