Student accommodation consultation in Chichester sparks mixed reaction

A consultation displaying new student accommodation proposals has been met with mixed reactions from residents.
Resident, Kevin Skeites, looking and the proposed plansResident, Kevin Skeites, looking and the proposed plans
Resident, Kevin Skeites, looking and the proposed plans

Plans to convert the former Portfield Depot and UMA House site – next to the 500-home Shopwyke Lakes development – into housing for university students were open for public viewing beteen 2pm-8pm, April 13.

Construction company Osborne owns the site in Shopwyke Road and is working with the Student Housing Company on the project.

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They said: “The purpose of the exhibition was to give the public a chance to view the proposals and to provide their comments to us about the scheme.

“Our exciting proposal includes a new landscaped campus on this brown field site incorporating 521 exemplar student housing units.

“Attendees at the exhibition made a range of very useful comments on our proposals and we were pleased to see that many of these were positive.”

However, not all members of the public were reassured by the proposals.

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Kevin Skeites, 55, of Holly Tree Cottage, said: “I appreciate that there is a need for more student accommodation to be built but what would you think if you found out you are going to have students living behind you?

“I am also concerned that this will affect the selling of our house if I ever move.”