The inside of the building has been subject to vandalism and squatters for some years.

Plans to convert the Crookes Valley Methodist Church into student cluster flats were approved on Tuesday by Sheffield Council.

Last week we reported that the controversial plans had split the community. You can read the full story here.

Local residents strongly opposed the approval of the plans calling the flats ‘rabbit hutches’. The conversion will involve dividing the church into five floors with a total of 19 cluster flats. In total the building will house 98 students.

Leading the objections was a Crookesmoor resident and architect Ann Daw. She said “The density of development will result in low ceilings, crowded kitchens and little daylight. There are too many floors. Some rooms will not have a window.”

The Harcourt Community Action Group were worried about the future of the building. Their spokesman Stuart Astill explained  “The plan is to sell the 98 bedrooms to different owners – which will make it very difficult to protect the building in future.”

The Labour majority planning committee voted through the development that will protect the Grade II listed exterior of the building. However, the three Lib Dems on the council opposed the scheme citing the council’s CS41 planning regulations that only 20% of the area’s housing should be HMOs. Currently the figure stands at 47%.

Lib Dem councillor Paul Scriven said “This plan is the equivalent of rabbit hutching human beings.”

A consultant for the developer; Northern Eye Properties said “These will be bespoke properties for overseas and mature students with hotel-standard accommodation which complies with guidelines.”

The homer Masonic Temple was used for 100 years before it was vacated in 2007.

Four separate applications to build student accommodation in the centre of Lancaster have been submitted to the council.

The schemes would create more than 40 student beds across the city and the Lancaster District Chamber of Commerce have welcomed the plans saying that the stunt population will help boost the economy of the city.

Ashby Properties wish to convert three floors of a building in Sun Street into 18 student beds. The ground floor of the building is already occupied by Bistro 26.

Meanwhile another development is planned by Mister Investment Group who wish to convert part of the former Masonic Temple on Church Street. The Grade II listed building has been empty since 2007 after the masons relocated to Scotforth.

Universities are investing in impressive buildings to attract students.

A new survey has revealed that universities are spending more and more on campus facilities to attract the most number of students.

Building firm Wates said that 79% of universities in the UK have constructions plans costing more than £5m scheduled for the next year.

The rise in tuition fees means that students are expecting a higher level of accommodation and facilities. Some universities have plans to build hotels on campus for visiting relatives. Others feel that the look of the new buildings is very important, stretching their budgets to construct impressive new buildings.

Mr Vickers speaking for Wates said

“Students are being asked to pay more than ever before for a university degree. That means they expect a quality of experience that reflects the high price they are paying.

“In order to remain competitive, universities are therefore looking to deliver modern facilities that have the ‘wow’ factor while also encouraging more efficient and collaborative use of space.”

It is felt that the ‘student experience’ is under scrutiny now with students looking for value for money in all areas of their degree. Some universities were considering building International Colleges to specifically host their international student intake. While the survey was anonymous it is clear that many institutions are feeling the heat.

The Church has been empty since the early 2000's and has fallen into disrepair.

Controversial plans to convert a former Methodist Church in Sheffield into student accommodation will be put to a council vote next week.

The proposals would see the church, which is a listed building, converted into 98 student beds. Situated at the corner of Crookesmoor Road and Crookes Valley Road since 1880, the building has been empty for some years and is now vandalised and home to squatters.

Nearby residents and the University of Sheffield have raised concerns that this project would tip the balance of student residents in the area. But on Tuesday council officers must decide whether to approve the plans and save the church from slipping into further disrepair.

Considering the project council planners said; “on balance, the proposal represents an acceptable development that will provide a positive uplift and investment in the area, but most importantly… will secure the long-term future of a prominent grade II-listed building that is currently at risk”

It is now up to the council to decide, as the planners fall short of fully recommending that the plans be approved as the issue of affordable hosting remains outstanding.

Harcourt Community Action Group believes that the building could be saved and converted to a community building rather than student flats. The University feels that the scheme amounts to ‘overdevelopment’ and is worried about the balance between students and the permanent residents.

Six separate blocks up to seven storeys tall will be built on the site to house 464 students.

Plans for a new student housing complex in Northampton have been approved by the borough council.

The £25m development for accommodation for nearly 500 students will be built on the homer site of St John’s carpark.

Local residents had raised objections that the project would bring increased noise pollution and would exacerbate traffic problems in the area. Concerned neighbours pointed out that the night-clubs on nearby Bridge Street were already causing problems late at night and that an influx of young residents would only add to them.

Northampton University’s Vice Chancellor Nick Petford said that the new housing was necessary for the institutions growth:

“To remain competitive the University must be able to offer its students the very best accommodation when they choose to study here and this new hall helps to enhance its accommodation offer significantly.”

The University already has seven student halls around the city, and this new project will see six blocks built on the same site in one large housing complex.

EPCs are now mandatory when marketing any property.

This Friday the 6th April 2012 The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations 2011 will come into force.

The changes to the Regulations seem minor but they relate particularly to the marketing stage of property lettings. Once the new legislation goes live EPCs will be required on marketing from non-domestic, commercial rental properties as well as residential lets. The written particulars must contain the first page of the EPC, not just the asset rating.

If an EPC is not available for the property once marketing has begun, the agent has 28 days for the EPC to be carried out.

Guidelines now stipulate that attaching the EPC means stapling, glueing or taping, it cannot be loosely inserted into the particulars.

The regulations come into force as a new design for the EPC is revealed, which will show potential for money saving should recommended improvements be made.

The legislation will be policed by councils and taxing standards officials and the maximum fine for non-compliance is £5,000.

The Department for Communities and Local Government who is overseeing the changes have set up a technical solution with Landmark to allow EPCs to be downloaded from a central register, to make attaching one to online particulars easier. This will be a ‘free’ system for agents registering for the scheme. In principle the agent could attach a link to the online EPC to the marketing.

For more information on the EPC changes download the DCLG Guidance and FAQS here.

The Quasar building is in a prominent position close to Bath's shopping quarter.

Proposals have been put forward to convert the old Quasar building in Bath city centre into student flats.

A consortium of developers have bought the site and submitted a planning application to Bath and North Somerset Council to transform it. The developed building would contain ten cluster flats with 48 en suite bedrooms. There is no parking attached to the planning application but there is room for bike storage.

Kit Stokes, from Aspect360; the company acting on behalf off the applicants, said that the building was perfect for a student development.

“There is evidence that there is a strong student market in Bath with many students wishing to live off-campus in the city centre.

“We recognise that there is anecdotal evidence of problems with students living in other parts of Bath. However, the Quasar building is located away from existing family housing and the potential for disturbance from student occupants is therefore not a significant issue.

“It is our view that developments such as this will free up family houses as students choose to live in purpose-built and managed student accommodation.”

There had been an idea to add a further storey to the building, but this was dropped after consultation with the council.

If the plans for the £1 million development are approved, it is hoped that the project would be completed in the for the new academic year in September.

Flat Man hopes to keep doing good deeds and encouraging his fellow students to do the same.

A masked superhero has taken to the streets of Christchurch, New Zealand to rescue students in need.

Creeping around the campus and halls of residence of Canterbury University he delivers food and beer parcels to students who have fallen on hard times or have had their homes left in a mess after a party.

Flat Man has kept his identity secret from everyone apart from his mother and he intends to keep it that way.

“I tend to deliver late at night, in the early hours, to keep it all secret and maintain my identity,” he said.

“I plan it pretty carefully, drop the parcel and run, leaving just a note and my Flat Man logo in chalk on their doorstep.

“My flatmates have no idea what I’m up to and when I go out on a mission, I have to take my stuff and change into Flat Man around the corner in my car.”

He came up with the idea after being inspired by the Student Volunteer Army’s work following the city’s catastrophic earthquakes. After the ‘quakes lots of venues for younger people had to shut, so people have been hosting house parties but they get out of hand and the hosts end up out of pocket.

He pays for all of the donations himself, but says that we would welcome a donor to help him do even more. He designed his own costume and has set up a Facebook page with the slogan ‘Be a Bruv, Share the Luv’.

You can visit his Facebook page here.

As in an historical town, space is at a premium in St Andrews.

The president of St Andrews University Students’ Association has called for patience and urged fellow students “not to give up hope” when looking for accommodation.

Patrick O’Hare made the plea after it was revealed that 535 students have have applied for return places in the University’s halls have been turned away, a figure 155 more than last year.

The private rental sector in St Andrews is expensive and in short supply. Some students feel that there is little support financially for those that have to live off campus.

Fears abound that the situation will only get worse next year, with applications to the university up by 17%.

Students have now come together to form a protest group on Facebook called Lobby the Principal to put pressure on the university authorities.

A university spokesman said: ”The University of St Andrews provides accommodation for at least half of all our full-time students. Proportionately, no other UK university provides more directly managed accommodation. We also try to guarantee a place in halls to all our new entrant students.

”We are hopeful that as the position with our entrant numbers becomes clearer over the next few weeks, we will be able to offer more places in halls to some of the 535 students whose applications to return to university accommodation we have not initially been able to accommodate.”

Mr O’Hare said that he was satisfied that the university was doing its best to resolve any concerns, but suggested that a revision of its housing strategy may avoid such situations in the future.

Limited parking in the area around the development is making the streets congested.

Neighbours of a student development in the Cornish town of Penryn are worried that the parking woes caused by workmen are just the start of their troubles.

Residents are concerned that when the students move in the parking problems will be exacerbated if they bring their cars.

The development in Station Road will hold some 231 flats and is being built by development company Kier West. In August, just before work began on the site, residents were sent letters saying that the company hoped ”to co-operate with neighbours to minimise disruption”.

Kier West also said that it was hoped that contractors would park on nearby industrial estates rather than in residential areas.

Now residents are sick of cars and vans blocking the streets. Lorna Smuda, of nearby Andrewartha Road, said: “I am concerned the students are going to bring their cars even though they are not supposed to.

“I do wonder what the future holds.”

Cornwall Councillor Mary May is meeting with Kier West and the University to discuss the residents concerns and hopes that some of the unnecessary yellow lines in the area can be removed to create more parking spaces.

She said ”The biggest worry is the parking and we want the developer to work with the community to minimise impact.”

A spokesman dor Kier said that it was doing all it could to minimise impact and in a statement said ”We are holding a meeting with all our subcontractors today, during which we will reiterate the need to show consideration to our local community.”

Students have been asked not to bring their cars to university as part of a green travel plan.