EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The rooms are intended for international students and those who cannot afford to live in Ghent, Source: Krisztian Korhetz
Local authorities want to monitor the situation and keep a healthy housing balance
On 10 November, authorities at Ghent University in Belgium announced that they will rent 100 student rooms in Bruges to ease access to housing. Since the academic institution is located in the city of Ghent, students who live in the new accommodation will have to commute for more than 40 kilometres every day.
The university has also said that this housing is intended for students who cannot afford to go on the private market or international students who would otherwise have to skip going to universities. Also, the rent prices of the accommodations are classified as democratic, meaning that tenants would be eligible for subsidies.
Crucially, the decision came after plans to build more student housing in Ghent itself fell through, according to a press statement. Now, the university’s administration claim that actually renting rooms on the private market would be a cheaper and quicker way of providing housing.
Additionally, the rooms are located near the Bruges train station, to provide better travel options, as the train ride between the two cities takes less than 30 minutes. Authorities say that there could be a possible expansion at the location to a total of 250 rooms.
Moreover, Ghent University officials are also looking into finding student accommodation in Kortrijk – another Belgian city located less than 50 kilometres away from Ghent, with a similar train offer. At the same time, staff have promised to expand the scheme and rent 500 rooms in Ghent territory from 2024.
As the university put it, many students are having trouble finding accommodation on the private market in Ghent, as it is one of the biggest university cities in Belgium. Data from local authorities backs the statement as in July 2021 the city published a study claiming that Ghent would need additional housing would for 10,000 students.
This prompted a response from the local government, which launched an action plan to create more accommodations and asked universities to consult with the city when planning expansions of their programmes so that the influx of students can be managed more effectively.
Furthermore, the city launched an advisory service to help landowners with property close to universities develop their land into student housing.
However, passing the ball of the housing shortages to other cities is not a long-term option either. As the VRT reports, Bruges Alderman for Students, Mathijs Goderis explained that currently there is no shortage of accommodation in the city. Still, local authorities need to keep a close eye on the supply and demand balance.
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
And the current administration plans to make Jardin del Turia Europe’s largest city green space by extending it to the sea
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team