St Andrews University Plans New Student Accommodation

The University of St Andrews has been granted planning permission for new student accommodation, marking the largest expansion in the town in a decade.

The green light for the proposed development, which is situated between Andrew Melville Hall And Agnes Blackadder Hall, has been granted by Fife council. A total of 148 new student beds will be provided as part of the project on the site on North Haugh, which is also known as 'Gap Site 3'.

Currently the University supplies over 4,000 beds for it's students, which makes up over 40% of its student population. However, there is a worry that more students will have to rely on the private market as these student numbers rise.

Over £100m is being committed by the university to aid the expansion of its accommodation by 1,000 beds, with this current development contributing towards the target.

The building will be made up of three buildings ranging between 3 and 4 storeys in height, which will be connected by glazed circulation spaces.

Benjamin Stuart, residential and business services director at the university commented on the matter, stating the extra beds are required to "contain growth" and keep housing pressure away from an "already saturated private market".

Mr Stuart added: "The University of St Andrews is acutely aware of the increasing pressures on St Andrews from the accommodation demands of our students.

"We are also seeing increasingly high demands from students in terms of the quality and configuration of university provided accommodation.

"The university currently provides around 4,100 bed spaces, which, when compared to other university locations, this represents a high proportion of university provided bed spaces when compared to the overall student population.

"This, however, requires to be considered in the context of the constrained housing market in St Andrews and pressures from the local community and tourism markets, especially in terms of HMO properties, meaning that available accommodation is at a premium.

"It is for these reasons that the university is committed to increasing the quantity and quality of student accommodation across its estate and Gap Site 3 located at the North Haugh, is a key component of this strategy.

"The strategy to deliver more bed spaces is a testament to the University's ongoing commitment to continue to deliver an outstanding experience that students and graduates cherish, and furthermore demonstrates the effectiveness of the close partnership between staff and student leaders, in tackling the community's biggest challenges."