Telford College Residences

“Talking with other people has been a little tough, and I feel kind of on my own.”

“I’d handle it the same way many places do in other countries, with a kind of compatibility check. You’d say whether you’re more of a tidy person, a party person, or someone who likes things quiet, so you can match people up in a way that works best for everyone.”

“Overall, it’s pretty run down. Sure, the reception area has been “refreshed”, but the rest of the place looks like some Soviet-era architect went to a minimalist design party about eight years ago, got food poisoning, and then threw up whatever was left. It’s cheap and tacky. The furniture is all old, nasty, and flimsy, and the building genuinely needs a proper refurbishment. And while you’re at it, think properly about things like using recycled materials, natural heating options like biomass boilers, and even reworking the whole security setup. Biometric door locks would make more sense than whatever they’ve got now. Also, wooden floors would be a huge improvement, because the plastic flooring is honestly visually offensive in the worst way. Get rid of the rule about not being allowed to put things on the walls. That policy is absolute nonsense. A room is defined by what’s on the walls, not by some pointless restriction. There’s also nowhere near enough proper space for socialising. Right now it’s basically an Xbox, three sofas, and a couple of vending machines shoved next to it. If, for example, there was a Starbucks inside the accommodation, plus way more open, relaxing space, maybe even an open plan setup with a cinema, it wouldn’t feel like some local dealer’s meth kitchen. That’s genuinely what it comes across as. When you first move out, if your accommodation is generally unpleasant, you’re almost guaranteed to feel put off by living there. And sadly, this is a common stereotype for that stage of life, because most of us have to go through it at some point. I get that it’s the norm, but the norm is morally wrong and it should be changed. For the sake of future generations, and also the people who are dealing with it now. If we ruin things for the next generation, the world is only going to get worse than it already is. Why would anyone want that?”