Further and Higher Education

58. Further education colleges play an important part in meeting the educational and vocational needs of young people in Hampshire. During the Structure Plan period, further education colleges will have to meet the challenges raised by increasing numbers of students in this educational sector.

59. Higher education institutions are major employers providing a range of direct and in-direct employment opportunities as well as providing high standards of educational, research and training opportunities and attracting inward investment. They also have valuable links with local business and industry and contribute towards urban regeneration. A major change to which higher education institutions are responding is the projected increase in student numbers which are expected to rise significantly over the Structure Plan period.

ED1 Development and redevelopment, which would maintain and enhance the provision of educational facilities for higher education and further education will be permitted provided such development:

(i) takes place within the built-up areas as defined in local plans;

(ii) when appropriate is well related to existing higher and further education facilities;

(iii) respects the scale and nature of the local townscape, particularly the setting and buildings of architectural or historic interest;

(iv) can be well served by public transport, walking and cycling (as part of a campus transport strategy); and

(v) only exceptionally results in the net loss of existing dwelling stock.

60. Universities, other colleges of higher education and colleges of further education play an important role in the local economy. The authorities wish to ensure the continued success of these institutions by encouraging their growth in ways which contribute towards the regeneration of the urban areas. It is in the urban areas that the needs of higher and further education institutions can best be met. In these areas, educational facilities can take advantage of existing public transport services and students and staff are within easy access of shopping, leisure and other community facilities.

61. The increase in student numbers means it is likely that demand for new educational facilities will arise. Higher and further education institutions will be encouraged to meet their needs in ways which contribute towards enhancing the quality of the built environment through the effective recycling of land and buildings, and the increased use of public transport, cycling and walking - rather than the private car - through the development of a campus transport strategy.

ED2 Development of purpose-built student accommodation within the built-up areas will be permitted provided that it:

(i) is either within easy walking or cycling distance of academic facilities or can be well served by public transport (as part of a campus transport strategy);

(ii) respects the scale and nature of the local townscape; and

(iii) does not result in the significant net loss of existing dwelling stock.

62. The growth in student numbers during the Plan period will continue to place pressures on local housing markets, particularly on the private rented sector which is already experiencing considerable pressure.

63. Unless more student accommodation is provided, additional burdens will be made on the private rented stock, reducing its availability for others who are in housing need. Proposals which increase the supply of purpose-built student accommodation will be encouraged, particularly if it is sensitively located with consideration for the local townscape. Centrally-located student accommodation can make a valuable contribution to the vitality of town and city centres particularly through the conversion of under-used offices.

64. To encourage the wider use of public transport, walking and cycling, student accommodation should be located near to the facilities it serves, or on public transport routes.

ED3 Outside built-up areas new, free-standing educational campuses will not be permitted unless the site is adjacent to an existing or proposed built-up area and it can be demonstrated that the need cannot be met by redevelopment and change within the urban area. Under these exceptional circumstances it will need to be demonstrated that both the need for the development, and the benefit that would flow from it, are sufficient to outweigh any Development Plan objections. Such proposals must include student accommodation and be in locations well served by public transport (as part of a campus transport strategy).

65. Provision of educational facilities will usually be provided through Policies ED1 and ED2. However, urban areas may not always be able to provide all the opportunities to meet the needs of higher and further education institutions. In these exceptional circumstances, a departure from the `Rural Hampshire' policies of this Plan may be justified. The local planning authorities would have to be satisfied that the needs of the higher or further education institutions could not be met satisfactorily within the urban areas.