The last of the cabins providing temporary accommodation at the university have been dismantled after permanent housing was found for all students.
Speaking on Friday, a spokesperson for the university said: “I’m delighted to say that the last of the students moved out last week thanks to the sterling efforts of our accommodation team, who worked round the clock to secure good quality permanent housing for everyone.”
In September, the university set up a temporary village in the LPAC car park after receiving an “unprecedented demand” for accommodation from first years.
At the start of freshers’ week around 200 first year students were placed into temporary accommodation, with some put into hotels until more cabins could be built.
The cabins were hired from the company Bunkabins and could each can accommodate two students. They were fully powered, heated and are furnished with two single beds, two desks, a flushing toilet and shower but no cooking facilities.
Shortly after Festival Gardens was completed, a second site was set up near the university’s Sport Centre.
But only one or two people ever moved into Delph Gardens, with most students choosing to stay in the cheaper cabins and remain with their friends in Festival Gardens.
Last month, a number of residents of Festival Gardens told The Linc about the challenging conditions they faced whilst living in the Bunkabins.
Matthew Grundy, a business and management student, said: “I was a bit gutted at first, but once you get here you’ve just got to get on with it and make do basically. Obviously they’re not fantastic living conditions, the bathroom’s small, I would like a kitchen.”
Dean Dubbs, a film and television student, said he’s “happy that the uni has sorted out something in the first place”. He said: “It’s not that bad, it’s not the worst thing in the world.”