Housing shortages for university students in York are ‘set to worsen’, after continuous decline.
Martin Blakey of Unipol said many university students will struggle to find affordable housing this year – and in some cases, ‘supply will simply dry up’.
As further education students are preparing to begin their higher education in September, many will apply for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), and York has the highest demand for this PBSA than any other city in the country.
In a blog for the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) which covered university cities across the UK, Mr Blakey said new bed spaces in PBSA fell by over 50% this year compared to 2020.
A similar picture is expected in 2024 and the charity is predicting a “virtual standstill” in new provision in 2025 and 2026.
Mr Blakey also said that a third of this year's new beds are actually coming back onto the market following refurbishment or building works.
The student housing charity chief executive said: “Unless there is currently a ‘spade in the ground’, actual building is unlikely to happen.
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