University re-submits plans for residence at Albany Park
The University of St Andrews announced yesterday that it is to re-submit plans for the construction of a new student residence at the site of Albany Park, in a bid to de-pressurise the ongoing student housing crisis.
Albany Park, the 1970’s accommodation site, had the capacity to house 340 students, until its eventual demolition in 2020, with the pandemic rendering previous plans for reconstruction impossible. Albany Park closed at the end of Spring 2018, due to not being HMO compliant.
In 2019, plans for 821 new rooms at Albany Park were submitted to Fife Council, eventually gaining approval in February 2021 for 681 beds. The new Planning Application Notice will be outlined in a series of public consultation events at the Byre Theatre on Wednesday 7 June and Wednesday 28 June, where representatives from both the University and project partners Campus Living Villages (CLV) will be available to answer questions from the community.
Derek Watson, Chief Operating Office, Quaestor, and Factor at the University has said: “This is great news for the University, our students and the community."
“The development is central to the University’s strategy to provide more student accommodation for our students and ease the pressure on the housing stock in St Andrews.
“The new Albany Park will provide new student accommodation of the highest quality in an attractive landscaped environment and has the potential to revitalise the eastern area of St Andrews.”
Mr Watson added that the proposed new plan, now aiming to provide 710 beds, “is key to the University’s strategy to provide more accommodation for our students and ease the pressure on housing stock in St Andrews. Despite recent volatility in the markets, particularly the construction industry, we have remained committed and optimistic this plan can become a reality.”
“If approved, the new Albany Park will provide more than 700 high-quality student beds in an attractive landscaped environment which will improve amenity in the east of the town."
“The development has the potential to revitalise the eastern area of St Andrews and we are looking forward to putting our proposals to the local community and hearing their views.”
There will be a range of rent prices, with additional bursary and support packages available to assist students with the cost. This comes in addition to the £24 million that the University of St Andrews provides through bursaries and scholarships to ease the cost of living.
Image: Stuart Caie via Flickr