Paul Crossley

Liberal Democrats in Bath have long been calling for sensible approach to student housing by Government. On the one hand the Government are asking for outrageous numbers of new housing but then it refuses to count student housing. Bath is a small city and each family house that is taken over for multile let adds to the pressure on our housing stock. Yet if we built 400 student housing units and save 100 family houses the Government does not acknowledge the figures. Areas such Oldfield have large numbers of HMOs let to students.

Our MP Don Foster backs this view and is calling for Common Sense Campaign on Affordable Homes

Don Foster MP has called for residents to back him against the Government in his common sense campaign on student housing.

Bath residents now have the chance to get behind Don's view that new purpose-built student accommodation should count towards the affordable homes target set by the Government and he is urging them to make themselves heard on this issue.

Don said, "It's simply common sense that the Government should allow student houses to count towards the target. The new purpose-built accommodation means that students will move out of the houses in the most affordable areas of our City. Can the Government really not see the benefit of this?

"We now have the opportunity to get involved with the RSS consultation process, which could dramatically affect the number of houses to be built within the Bath . If we are to stop Government indifference towards local circumstances, then it's crucial that Bath residents take this opportunity with both hands. I hope the public will make their voice heard, either directly to the consultation, or by getting in touch with me."

The consultation process for the Regional Spatial Strategy, (which demands that 21,300 new homes are built in Bath and North East Somerset by 2026), has now begun and runs until the 24th October. Throughout this period, members of the public can voice their concerns to the Government over any aspect of the Government's plans for the South West.

Don added, "We raised this issue with the Secretary of State some time ago, and she pointed us towards the consultation process. However, the deadline is approaching, so it's important we act now."

Please sign our petition at student housing link