Council ‘alarmed’ at Bristol University’s plans to house students in Bath

A senior cabinet member in Bath has expressed “alarm and concern” over the University of Bristol’s plans to house first year students in the city.

The statement from Bath & North East Somerset Council follows the university warning that up to 300 students may be housed in Bath due to a high proportion of successful applications.

A message on the University of Bristol Accommodation Office website said that for “all non-guaranteed applicants, we cannot guarantee to make you a university-allocated accommodation offer”.

It added: “If we do have a room available to offer, it is likely to be a shared room or accommodation in a neighbouring town or suburb, such as Bath.”

Prospective students have reacted with incredulity at the possibility of studying in Bristol but living in our neighbouring city 13 miles away.

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Those housed away from conventional first year housing will be offered university-based support, as well as a travel expenses bursary of £500 per term.

Students have therefore also been advised to look for private sector accommodation within Bristol, or even in neighbouring towns and suburbs with train stations providing “easy access” to the city centre.

Suggestions have included Bath, Keynsham, Shirehampton, Yate, Avonmouth and Chippenham.

Avonmouth is one of the places students have been told to search for private housing – photo: Martin Booth

In a statement, Tom Davies, Bath’s cabinet member for adult services & council house building, said: “We are alarmed and concerned about reports, including information placed on their website, that the University of Bristol is suggesting offering accommodation to new students in our area from the start of next term.

“We have neither been informed nor consulted on this and we are therefore seeking urgent clarification from the University about their position.

“Any decision by the university to accommodate students in our area would have very significant implications on our communities, especially given the existing pressures on local housing.

“Students deserve good, local accessible accommodation and it is for the university to make appropriate plans for this.

“Local residents should not bear the brunt of any lack of preparation by the University of Bristol for the new academic year.”

These suggestions from the university follow students being housed in hotels due to ongoing work on accommodation in September 2020 and some receiving accommodation in Newport in Wales in 2019.

The university has also stated that applicants from a “very small number of courses” will be offered financial incentives to defer their studies until 2022, including a rent reduction of up to £7,000 and a bursary of £3,600 for their first year.

A University of Bristol spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “Like many other universities, we have had particularly high demand for places in student residences this year.

“Students who had firmly accepted an offer to study here and made us their first choice are guaranteed a place in university-allocated accommodation in Bristol.

“Those who put Bristol as an insurance offer, or are returning, may be offered the option of low-cost shared rooms or accommodation nearby in Bath. We are also providing support and advice to students if they wish to find private accommodation in Bristol.

“We have the option to house around 300 students in Bath if needed. However, we are doing our best to house as many students as we can in Bristol, so the final number could be much lower. These will be provided in existing, purpose-built student accommodation in the city. Students will get a free travel bursary and will have access to pastoral support services available to students living in Bristol.”

Main photo: Visit Bath

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