New build Studentification and the rise of PBSA in Manchester’s University Corridor- resident’s perspective, a missing link?

Abstract

The traditional image of students in higher education institutions residing in the run down, least developed localities of towns and cities across the United Kingdom becomes less and less relevant come each September. In recent years more and more interest has emerged regarding the geographies of higher education students primarily considering patterns in dispersion and mobility, as a result of the negative impacts that higher education students are known to have on their ‘host communities’. Many local authorities and commentators alike continue to suggest and instigate further expansion and rise of private built student accommodation (PBSA), as it appears in cases the panacea of Studentification offering essentially regulated studentified communities by redistribution to reintroduce balance; although this idea is partially flawed. PBSA continues to become the more and more preferred option of residence for students. This dissertation explores why residents choose to reside in PBSA, drawing upon in-depth interviews with residents in Manchester’s University Corridor and in depth analysis of the topic. Considering the significant influence of developer, government and university public media based drive for PBSA and the popular notion of partial lapses or fall backs in the private sector. While also exploring that students as a social group are innately heterogeneous and unpredictable. Concluding on the notions that as with many social science studies, there is no certain outcome rather an amalgamation of reasoning that overlaps and interconnects across the academic topic area. Which in many ways just serves to reinforce and determine the validity of the heterogeneous nature of students the principle reason for the rise in
PBSA.