PORT REPOR
REPORT REP irregularcornwall.com
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IRREGULAR IS COMMITTED TO CREATING LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO EASE THE PRESSURE ON STUDENT ACCOMMODATION, WHILST PROTECTING PENRYN’S BEAUTIFUL GREEN SURROUNDINGS.
Contents 4. Why Irregular? 6. Introduction 8. The Project 10. The Reaction 12. Findings 14. Comments 2
Roadshow Report
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Why Irregular?
Well this place is anything but ordinary. We wanted a positive solution to student housing without that meaning cutting any corners.
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Roadshow Report
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Falmouth Roadshow 29.08-01.09.2017
Property developer Irregular Cornwall has submitted an application to house 264 students in shipping containers on brownfield land on the South Kernick Industrial Estate in Penryn. In addition, there are proposals for a health centre, surgery and business space in the former Home Shed building on the site. The recycled and renovated containers are environmentally-
friendly, affordable and would help to ease the pressure from students on local housing in Falmouth and Penryn. The masterplan for the site envisages a place where people can study, work, rest and play with private residential properties planned alongside a wide variety of commercial units. As part of an extensive public consultation exercise, Irregular Cornwall displayed a fully fitted out container on the The Moor Piazza
in Falmouth and on the Penryn site during the last week in August 2017. Note a second public consultation exercise will take place at Penryn Campus towards the end of September when the students are back. Almost 1,000 people visited the ‘show home’ with 95 per cent of those surveyed saying they support the location of the scheme.
THE RECYCLED AND RENOVATED CONTAINERS ARE ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY, AFFORDABLE AND WOULD HELP TO EASE THE PRESSURE FROM STUDENTS ON LOCAL HOUSING IN FALMOUTH AND PENRYN.
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Roadshow Report
Out Of 230 comments only 4 were concerned about loss of Industrial Land
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The Project
This complex project calls upon the skills of a range of multidisciplinary construction consultancy professionals, industry specialists and associated partners. Members of the development team have also travelled far and wide to find the best examples of shipping
containers being used as student accommodation, from Amsterdam to Berlin and Copenhagen to Le Havre. The student accommodation will offer a mix of high quality rooms for undergraduate, postgraduate and international students, including rooms with disabled access.
All rooms would have en-suite facilities and high bandwidth Internet and communication networks. The scheme would benefit from landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, gym facilities, and significant provision for cycle storage.
THE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION WILL OFFER A MIX OF HIGH QUALITY ROOMS FOR UNDERGRADUATE, POSTGRADUATE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, INCLUDING ROOMS WITH DISABLED ACCESS. 8
Roadshow Report
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The Reaction
The ‘show home’ container was situated in the Falmouth Moor Piazza for the first two days of the ‘roadshow’. There was a huge amount of interest with around 400 visitors on day one alone. This provided an opportunity for the development team to engage directly with the public and answer questions, which ranged from the design and fabrication to the location, the cost and the impact on the local economy. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and many people who admitted to having negative preconceptions were persuaded by the mixed-use nature of the project, the transformation of an unsightly area of brownfield land and the ingenuity of the design. The unit was then relocated to the Kernick Industrial estate, the site where the project is planned. Here we met a number of local people who will be most directly affected by the development and again, answered a range of questions.
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Members of the press and local politicians also paid a visit.
and alternative accommodation is being discussed.
The press were keen to hear the grander vision, and filmed a video interview and ‘show round’ with Irregular Project Manager Andy Cook .
Mr Cook said: “As a result of the open days, a number of businesses have enquired about relocating to both the application and master plan site and Irregular are working with these businesses to see how their requirements can be accommodated in the scheme.”
The small number of concerns that were raised related to parking considerations and the loss of any existing industrial space. Residents and businesses were assured that a number of measures were being taken to address the parking concerns and that the industrial buildings are not only reaching the end of their life but also pose a potential health and safety risk. With regard to parking, it was pointed out that the site is situated close to bus stops, cycle routes, the main railway line and is within walking distance of both the campus and the university. Furthermore, talks are underway to secure an electric car sharing scheme. Meanwhile, the project management team have been consulting with all of the businesses that would be affected
A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES HAVE ENQUIRED ABOUT RELOCATING TO BOTH THE APPLICATION AND MASTER PLAN SITE AND IRREGULAR ARE WORKING WITH THESE BUSINESSES
Roadshow Report
Out Of 230 comments only 7 were concerned about parking arrangements
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Findings
A review of the data gathered from the 166 questionnaires filled in has been carefully analysed to identify any persistent themes or trends. What people said: 1) The vast majority of those surveyed (95 per cent) supported the development being built on brownfield land 2) Ninety two per cent felt that the affordable rents would attract students currently living in Houses of Multiple Occupation Living in Penryn and Falmouth. There were many comments relating to the issue of affordability with this being typical: “This project means more students will be able to rent more space at a much reduced cost. It’s a win, win!” The proposed rent of £99 per week including all bills is roughly 20 per cent lower than the average HMO. 3) Ninety per cent said they felt the scheme was of architectural interest and this was a subject which attracted one of the highest numbers of comments including: “The shipping containers are very visually interesting.”; “Absolutely love the design and modern living space.”; “Quirky, inventive, flexible.”;
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“Interesting concept. Great design, sustainable balance.” 4) Ninety per cent of people thought the location was appropriate in terms of local amenities 5) Of 230 comments, only four were concerned about the loss of industrial land. 6) Of the same number of comments, only seven were concerned about parking. 7) Twenty three comments highlighted the ‘positive impact’ the development would have on the wider community. 8) Many respondents said the Irregular development would meet the needs of the local community’s development plan, whilst providing a boost to the local economy and help ease the impact of extra students moving into Falmouth and Penryn as a result of the university lifting the cap on numbers from 5,000 to 7,500. 9) One of the most positive themes to emerge from this process was that of sustainability. Aside from the unit being visually striking and architecturally interesting, visitors
were intrigued by its eco-friendly properties. The fact that the container has been put to heavy commercial and industrial use and is now being repurposed to suit a sustainable and social need was met with high approval. 10) The Irregular team were also pleased to receive such a wide array of comments and this feedback will be used as the start the design works for the next phase of the development of the brownfield site. In particular the potential to provide affordable rental accommodation for locals, the mixture of units required for businesses and the need for careful planning of infrastructure and parking.
“THIS PROJECT MEANS MORE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO RENT MORE SPACE AT A MUCH REDUCED COST. IT’S A WIN, WIN!”
Independent analysts Peter Brett Associates predict the master plan area would support an additional 332 jobs on the site with a GVA* of £18.8 million. Gross value added (GVA) is the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of an economy.
Roadshow Report
95% OF FEEDBACK
90% OF FEEDBACK
92% OF FEEDBACK
THE DEVELOPMENT
THE SCHEME WAS OF
RENT WOULD
BROWNFIELD LAND
INTEREST
IN HOUSES OF
SUPPORTED BEING BUILT ON
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SAID THEY FELT ARCHITECTURAL
FELT THE AFFORDABLE
ATTRACT STUDENTS CURRENTLY LIVING MULTIPLE OCCUPATION
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Comments
Mum of two, Amanda Shepherd, from Falmouth, said: “It’s a fantastic idea to have student accommodation made from sustainable materials in Penryn. I support this for so many reasons but especially to relieve the stress on the local housing and also give the students somewhere to live where
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they feel like they’ve got their own community.” Megan Lee-Yendall (22) who has just graduated from Falmouth University, said: “I think it’s really good. Falmouth University is a creative institution and this fits in really well with that ethos.
I think it’s a really good idea. If I were still at the university, I would happily live in one.” Max Cotterill (19) said: “It’s a great example of how space can be used effectively.”
Roadshow Report
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Design by leap.eco CGI renders by Sanders-Studios