New halls open to freshers

Warwick’s newest hall of residence, Sherbourne, is opening its doors to students for the first time this autumn.

The 527 room, self-catered accommodation is situated near Lakeside and costs £117 per week – the same price as a single room in Benefactors and almost £40 more expensive than the cheapest accommodation, Whitefields.

Sherbourne is approximately a ten-minute walk to central campus and sports an integral launderette. All rooms are ensuite and the average bedroom size is 4.7m x 2.7m.

New resident Waqqas Khanzada, a Supply Chain and Logisitcs Management postgraduate student, said: “It’s new but the rooms are a bit congested. Maybe I feel this because I’ve never lived in British university accommodation before… I would have liked some more room.”

The newest halls of residence are comprised of six student accommodation blocks with flats ranging in size from nine to 13 bedrooms. The accommodation is available to first year undergraduate students for a 39 week let from October to June.

Buildings were designed with low curved roofs to appear less imposing and fit in with the rural setting of Lakeside. Top floor rooms boast views of the surrounding countryside and campus.

Sherbourne is the second student accommodation to be completed in the last two years. Bluebell was opened in 2011 and is the most expensive accommodation on campus at £150 per week.

The latest addition to the campus residencies also has full wireless internet coverage – a new feature only available in select accommodations.

During the summer of 2012, Warwick started a programme to provide wireless network coverage to all campus residencies. The aim of the project is to install equipment that will enable wireless internet in 53 residential blocks and 5806 student bedrooms.

However, many buildings were constructed long before the invention of wireless internet making installation laborious, and the University has said it cannot promise that all students living on campus will benefit. Currently, nine accommodation blocks have been identified as posing possible construction problems.

Wireless internet coverage is currently available in Sherbourne, Tocil, Westwood and International House. Installation is currently underway to provide coverage in Arthur Vick, Benefactors and Bluebell (the latter of which currently receives wireless in just the kitchens).

Jack Martin, Lakeside and Benefactors should receive coverage before the end of 2012, and residents of Heronbank, Claycroft and Rootes can expect to enjoy wireless internet by January, February and March 2013, respectively.

Redfern is the only accommodation for which wireless internet is not available. The university has said it will not be possible until building refurbishment in summer 2013.