by Katie Alston

kalston@thekmgroup.co.uk

Controversial plans for a new student village on Chaucer Fields in Canterbury went on display in St Stephen’s Community Centre at the weekend.

The University of Kent are planning to transform Chaucer Fields, close to the new Canterbury Innovation Centre and Chaucer College into a £60 million hub for student accomodation.

They want to build:

• Homes for 800 students with a mixture of flats and townhouses
• A 150-room hotel
• A conference centre with a lecture theatre for 200 people
• About 200 parking spaces
• Offices, laundry, shop and cafe

Residents have expressed concern about the development's impact on the local area, particularly the added noise and need for parking.

Father-of-two Phil Deery attended the exhibition and said he feels there are other places where the university could build the project.

He said: “The university has a vast estate and there are a number of other plots on their land that they could build, this without infringing upon those of us who live next to Chaucer Fields.
“I’m not against students and I know they bring a lot to the city, but in return the city gives a lot back, and this is not fair on Canterbury."

But the university stress the accommodation will help tackle the problem of student houses and houses of multiple occupation in the city. They also point out the development will be environmentally friendly and will help meet the desperate need for hotel rooms. They say the design, based on a village green idea, will minimise any noise from students for people living in neighbouring streets, such as Harkness Drive, because it will be built into the slope and will be screened by trees and earth mounds.

UKC director of estates Peter Czarnomski said: “The university is one of the city’s major employers and is proud to be a corporate citizen of Canterbury and part of the community.
“The consultation isn’t just going through the motions and we welcome fair and frank discussions with people."

The university plans to submit an application in spring and has already briefed city councillors.

• See this week's Gazette for full report and reaction.