A LANDLORDS' organisation has criticised huge "super-halls" which are being built to house students.
The Residential Landlords Association says the large, self-contained complexes - like plush Aspley Hall at Firth Street, Huddersfield - will create student `ghettos' rather than helping students become part of the wider community.
RLA vice-chairman Chris Town said: "Some of the new halls are superb, with leisure and shopping facilities, but many others have no amenities to support students and these sterile blocks could isolate student communities."
The RLA also says the `village' style super-halls with facilities on site could take away students' custom from shops, bars and food outlets in university towns.
Mr Town said planning authorities are keen for superhalls to be built to ease the pressure on traditional student accommodation, such as shared houses.
But Mr Town said investing in traditional housing would be more beneficial.
He said: "We are concerned about the scale of the developments.
"We want to encourage investment and refurbishment in traditional housing that is adaptable. It can be occupied by young professionals, or families, as well as students.
"Super-halls are only for students and could blight whole areas."
Rachel Seymour, manager at Aspley Hall,
said: "There is no way students would be isolated, because they have to share kitchen and living areas.
"Communal areas on site and leisure facilities encourage students to socialise.
"We have more facilities on site than you would get in private housing. With being a larger landlord we can afford to."
