Student flats Parking concern over plans for UWE Frenchay campus

PLANS for 421 student beds at the University of the West of England's Frenchay Campus have been given the go-ahead despite concerns about parking in nearby streets.

- Adam POSTANS Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

South Gloucestershire Council's strategic sites delivery committee granted permission for a pair of six-storey blocks at the site in Coldharbour Lane, Stoke Gifford.

UWE operates a 'no car policy' which means students are not allowed to park vehicles within two miles of the campus as part of their tenancy agreement.

But ward Cllr Ayrden Pocock told the meeting that the community had longstanding concerns that it was not enforced.

He said staff and students parked in nearby streets, taking away spaces from residents, and that the plans would see a further reduction in parking on campus so the situation would only get worse.

Cllr Pocock said this was on top of overflow parking caused by student houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) where there were not enough spaces on driveways for every occupant.