A new law could be brought in as early as next year to limit the studentification of certain areas in university towns and cities - including York. A government report was published on Friday in which the Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, explained how the problem could be addressed in order to prevent areas turning into ghost towns outside of term times.

Hull Road ward councillor Roger Pierce, who has been campaigning for a change in planning law to ensure student accommodation is more dispersed said he was delighted, commenting:

"The Labour Group brought a motion to council last year on this very subject and following its approval, which it has to be said only received lukewarm support from Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors, I'm delighted to say the government has shown it is listening. The impact on areas in my own ward, as well as in other areas such as Badger Hill has demonstrated the effects of having a transient population highly concentrated in a small number of districts.

"I feel the noises being made from this council and the many others that have experienced the same problem have swelled the chorus of disapproval of existing policy, and I'm grateful to the city's MP, Hugh Bayley, for his representations to government on behalf of a great number of residents in the city".

As well as the impact on affordable housing in the city of an increasing student population, highly concentrated student areas can result in schools and churches becoming redundant, as well as shops struggling for what can be almost half a year without students in residence. Coun. Pierce says the number of properties in Hull Road wholly occupied by students is 547, which has increased markedly in recent years as student numbers have increased nationally.

He added:

"This is a problem which is not the fault of students - they are very welcome in our city but it is, nevertheless, a problem which we must address. A change in planning law I'm certain will go a long way towards achieving that".