The construction of four hundred student apartments on the Zernike Campus in the city of Groningen will not take place for the time being. The houses should have been there at the start of the new academic year, but that will not work.

The Student Housing Foundation has informed the municipality of Groningen. 'In November we signed an agreement with them to have the houses built, but now it appears that that will not work', says alderman Rik van Niejenhuis (PvdA). 'This is due to the production shortages and price increases that we are currently experiencing.'

Much needed

The extra student housing is desperately needed to accommodate international students, among others. It is also expected that the number of new students in the coming academic year will be higher than in the current year. According to the current plans, students will then receive a basic grant again.

At the beginning of the academic year, eight hundred students could live on the new campus to be built. The intention was to divide the houses in two in the first months, in order to realize extra living space.

Disappointment big

'The disappointment is great that it will not work now', says the alderman. 'There is a risk that there will be a major shortage of housing in August. That is why, in the coming period, as in previous years, we will be talking to student organisations, the RUG and Hanze University of Applied Sciences to see what we can offer students.'

Alderman Van Niejenhuis hopes that the student housing will still be at the intended location in August 2024.

Article: RTV Noord, Marten Nauta
Picture: Venema Media/ANP