Local Needs and Challenges

There is a growing and significant need for a range of housing in York. We have been looking at the following key local needs:

• Growing pressure on family housing due to a substantial shortage of Purpose Built Student Accommodation.
• Co-living homes are a growing concept of private living space with shared social space. They offer a flexible and people-centric option, and a strong focus on health and well-being.
• York relies heavily on key workers who struggle to find affordable accommodation in the city.
• Purpose-built senior living accommodation would help increase choice for older people and in turn ‘free up’ homes for younger people.

Student accommodation survey findings – May 2024

• Poor availability and lack of affordability highlighted as the priority issue for current York students.
• More students are competing for limited accommodation. Over 500 first year students at York St John are living in private rental homes (HMOs).
• University of York and York St John University, in partnership with Fusion Group, recognise the need to address this significant challenge.

York Student Affordability Survey 2024 by Cushman and Wakefield and Wau, in partnership with University of York, York St John and Fusion – Over 1500 Respondents