M20 under construction. Photo Resource It is being built on the former site of Vakschool Wageningen, which has moved to the opposite side of the road.
M20 is a collaborative project between student accommodation providers Idealis and DUWO, says Idealis director Bart van As. ‘DUWO is the client for the construction and we will be in charge of letting and managing the building.’ The studios have a floor area of 24 m2, and the student rooms 18 m2. The complex will also have two large communal rooms, an enclosed garden, a laundrette and bicycle storage. The complex will be heated and cooled by a ground source heat pump and electricity will be generated by solar panels on the roof.
The ratio of ‘non-independent units’ (student rooms with shared facilities, i.e. with flatmates) to ‘independent units’ (studio flats with their own kitchen, bathroom and toilet) is 60:40, says Van As. ‘Surveys show us about 50 per cent of students prefer independent accommodation and 50 per cent want to live with flatmates. But we think having flatmates is good for student welfare. People need social connections and a lively atmosphere. So that’s why we have this ratio.’
Agreement
Idealis made this agreement with the municipality. Van As: ‘Other property developers have to stick to it too if they want to build accommodation for students in Wageningen. That way, we and the municipality avoid a situation where developers only build expensive studio flats that they let for high rents because the tenants get housing benefit anyway.’
The rooms will become available on ROOM at least one month before completion.
