SOUTHEND: Early finish for uni student digs

Longpier.com can exclusively reveal that the new accomodation for students at the University of Essex’s Southend campus has been finished three weeks early.

The building – on London Road, opposite Sainsburys, has divided opinion in the town.  Some have dubbed it an “awful lego building”, while others say it’s added “colour and vibrancy” to the town.

It’s a multi-million pound project that has a car park built beneath it – run by Southend Council – as well as the provision of more than 560 rooms for students studying at the uni’s three sites in the south Essex town.

The accommodation has 561 student rooms in 7 houses situated around a central enclosed courtyard. All rooms are en-suite and there is generally 8 to 10 student bedrooms in each flat sharing a communal kitchen. There is also a selection of self contained studio flats suitable for either single or couple occupancy that have their own kitchenette as well as en-suite bathroom facilities. Some of the studio flats have been adapted  for wheel chair users.

Each study bedroom will be networked and internet access is provided at no additional cost. The large common room, which boasts both areas for joint study and relaxing, also benefits from internet access as does the courtyard area. We are also expecting to be able to deliver satellite style television provision through the data network so that you can watch TV through your PC in your study bedroom and large screen satellite TV in the spacious common room.

A dedicated Accommodation team will be based at University Square offering a 24 hour reception/security presence, a regular cleaning service in the communal areas of the flats and an out of hours resident support team.

University spokeswoman Vicky Passingham said:

“Currently students stay in university-managed accommodation, which is rented from private landlords. It means they can live as much as to 20 minutes from the campus.

“The new student accommodation will be modern, high-quality and in a good location. If the Southend campus is going to be a continued success, it is essential to provide modern accommodation for the students.”

Back in February, Longpier.com asked for views on the building -

Sue MacDonald who lives in Southend stated on Facebook:

“I think it is absolutely hideous…and the only positive thing I can think to say about it is that it will be a useful landmark for strangers in town”.

Chris Arnold said:

“What an ugly eyesore, along with the University white elephant.  Neither really fit in with the rest of the town.

At least try to design things that don’t stand out like a sore thumb.”

Another poster went futher:

“It is quite possibly the ugliest eyesore ever to insult my vision. It looks like it was designed by a blind three year old with a pile of Lego.”

Others are more taken with it, Mark D from Westcliff commented:

“I quite like it. Certainly a lot nicer than a comparable grey monstrosity would have been. Also, I don’t really see why it has to be in keeping with other nearby buildings. What about some of the Gaudi architecture in Barcelona, which is nothing like anything else. Or what about the Eiffel Tower when it was first built (and Parisians hated it)?”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW BUILDING NOW IT IS COMPLETE?  Leave a comment below

Pic 2 and 3 courtesy: University of Essex