The municipality of Groningen, working in conjunction with the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the University of Groningen, has reached an agreement with the Student Housing Foundation (SSH) to construct 400 additional housing units for international students at the Zernike campus. The SSH will develop and manage the new student flats. The agreement is seen as a temporary measure aimed at increasing the supply of housing for international students for the next ten years or so.
The project is also expected to result in a reduction of peak demand for student accommodation which usually precedes the beginning of an academic year.
“We want to offer a solution for the annual peak demand,” said Alderman for Housing Rik van Niejenhuis. The accord stipulates that SSH will make ‘double rooms’ available for rent during the peak demand period from September of any given year. The municipality hopes the additional offer will largely solve the annually recurring spike in student housing demand.
The new units will be ready by next August, so that new tenants can move in on September 1, 2023. These new student flats will be affordable modular units that can be used as living space for a longer period of time. The developer is also expected to create a pleasant living environment is for the residents. The location of the new accommodation is close the Zernike Park and De Koegangen.
The municipality says it has opted for temporary units because they can be constructed quickly and solve the affordable housing supply problem. The city officials say they are still on track to build additional permanent housing on Zernike campus from 2025 for a broad target group of international and Dutch students, employees of the educational institutions and possibly expats.