Shrewsbury university halls of residence on offer to college students

The college has started advertising the opportunity for its students to stay at the Mardol House halls and tweeted details this week.

It comes after Shropshire Council last week revealed it was "continuing to explore whether other educational establishments wish to utilise spare accommodation capacity while available".

The single rooms are advertised at £110 a week and single studio apartments at £135.

The building was refurbished at a cost of £3 million and opened in September 2015, in time to welcome the first intake of undergraduates at University Centre Shrewsbury. Currently there are 22 students living in the building, which has room for a total of 86.

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of the the authority's Labour group, welcomed the move and said the halls were an investment in the future of the town and the county.

He said: "This is a significant investment by the council on what I understand are excellent facilities so it makes sense they maximise occupancy until such time as it is fully used by the university.

"It is an investment by the council on the future of the university which will no doubt have a highly beneficial effect on Shrewsbury as a whole and the rest of the county."

The advert from Shrewsbury College states: "We do our best to make higher education study as easy as possible for you and that includes making living away from home for the first time an exciting prospect, rather than a cause for concern. If you're planning on studying at a higher level at Shrewsbury College, student accommodation is now available in the centre of Shrewsbury.

"Mardol House Student Accommodation is owned and managed by Shropshire Council and situated near the town centre's array of shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as the River Severn, Quarry Park and Theatre Severn."

It adds: "Mardol House is a newly renovated building with 86 secure en-suite rooms, offering a mix of single rooms with shared kitchen, dining and lounge areas and studio apartments. Facilities include free Wi-Fi access, fridge, freezer, microwave, launderette and a concierge service for any maintenance and welfare needs."

Steph Jackson, the council's head of commercial services, last week said one of the reasons for places still being available at the halls is that many students live within a close distance of Shrewsbury.

She said: "Currently 22 university students are living at Mardol House following the refurbishment of the building which had been empty for more than a decade. This number is due to increase during this year as further cohorts of students are welcomed to the town. European delegates of an education conference will be accommodated at the site in April, and Shropshire Council is continuing to explore whether other educational establishments wish to utilise spare accommodation capacity.

"Future accommodation requirements are being monitored in light of demand, as currently many students live within travel time."