Tottenham Hale masterplan: 'Beehive' of art students move in (From Haringey Independent)

Tottenham Hale masterplan: 'Beehive' of art students move in

7:00am Thursday 12th November 2009 in Your Local Areas By Elizabeth Pears

THE first milestone in an ambitious overhaul of Tottenham Hale has been reached as a "beehive" of 687 students move in to a purpose-built block that towers above the tube station.

Emily Bowes Court, in Lebus Street, — part of the wider Hale Village plan — will house University of Arts students and offers luxurious and modern accommodation at a reasonable price, say project developers.

And the borough's newest residents are also being tipped to boost the economy by spending their income at the nearby retail park which houses a Costa coffee shop, Lidl food store, chemist Boots and Staples stationery supplier.

The building was officially opened on Tuesday by Richard Blakeway, the mayor's housing advisor, who hailed the project as "ticking all the boxes" for student living adding it was vital the capital was prepared for t,he 17,000 students expected to flock here over the next four years.

Mr Blakeway said: "By building student accommodation in outer London, we free up spaces in houses in inner London that could be used as homes for families in overcrowded, temporary accomodation."

The contemporary "student village", dubbed a beehive by critics, offers flatshares for up to five people and studio appartments for one which cost £205 a week.

But student accommodation provider Unite, who manages the building, says the hefty price tag is justified as it includes all bills, free internet, a private courtyard, student lounge, 24-hour security and a contact centre to lodge complaints.

All rooms have plush en suite bathrooms and fully fitted kitchens.

And, it said, Tottenham's newest inhabitants, 40 per cent of whom are international students, will be able to make use of convenient transport links such as the overground and the Victoria Line, which will take them to Kings Cross in 15 minutes.

Richard Simpson, development director at Unite, said: "Tottenham Hale was chosen because of its fantastic transport network. If students want to 'live the dream' in central London, they can — but they will be paying a lot more if they actually live there.

"This is a fantastic modern building with everything students need and, above all, is safe and secure accommodation. Pupils that come here are well aware of the distance.

"There is also good evidence to suggest that students tend to stay on in the areas they live in while studying. There is a chance this will entice a completely different person to Tottenham."

But even Unite seems to readily admit that Tottenham Hale is not an ideal location for student nightlife.

In its own press release, it plugs Tottenham as being "just two tube stops away from the stylish bars and clubs in Highbury and Islington".

American art student Stefan Schwartzman, 18, studying at Central Saint Martins, said: "I haven't really explored the area. I kind of just walk to the tube station and back again.

"The real problem is the price, not the area. Even the cost of washing and drying your clothes is expensive. And the other day, a guy closed his door and it just fell off the hinges.

"I won't be staying next year."

Tottenham Hale ward councillor Alan Stanton said: "The logic of how this building is going to help regenerate Tottenham Hale still hasn't satisfied me. I do think students can bring a new life to an area but it seems wrong to bring people to an area and then say, 'and here's the transport links so you can get out of here as fast as possible'.

"Tottenham Hale isn't quite a mini Paddington Basin but there is plenty for art students to be intrigued by. There's the River Lea, the paddock and, down the road, Green Lanes.

"The idea that housing students in Tottenham is going to ease overcrowding seems a contradiction in terms when taking Haringey's own housing waiting lists into account. Every inch of available brownfield land should be used to build homes for the people in the area who need them."