By Gordon Berry

A FLAGSHIP new student residence at St Andrews University, the most environmentally friendly in the country, was formally opened yesterday by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Mr Brown, who recalled his own days as a student campaigner, performed the honours at the award-winning £34.7m David Russell Apartments.

Mr Brown has family connections with the university where his father studied 75 years ago and was later given an honorary degree.

The complex is the largest construction project undertaken by the university and was phased over three years.

Mr Brown said that he welcomed the new facilities for students, and added that the innovative approach to the design and environmental aspects of the accommodation continues to place the Fife university at the cutting edge of education throughout the world.

“I would congratulate St Andrews University on providing these first class facilities for their students.

“As someone who campaigned for improved facilities when a student, it lets me see how far universities have come in recognising the importance of providing quality accommodation,” he said.

However, Mr Brown was heckled by a small group of protesters complaining about the high cost of rent in the town.

Mr Brown was joined inside by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, Chancellor of St Andrews, as he formally opened the residence.

English student Alex Hayes (20) was part of the small protest group from the Lower Rents Now coalition who jeered Mr Brown as he left the halls.

The student said, “As Gordon Brown was coming here we thought we could highlight the links between his spending on Trident and the war in Iraq and the money that could be spent on education and housing to give us a cheaper and better education.

“In St Andrews, in university accommodation there’s a very short supply of low-rent housing. What there is needs urgent refurbishment.

“The nicer places like this are extremely high in rent and have gone up for the past five years.”

He claimed the rent at the flagship development in the next student year will top £4000, self-catered, for the full academic term.

“That’s a lot higher than most universities, so we feel it should be lowered.”

He added that rent in the private sector also continued to rise.

Situated outside the town centre, the complex provides energy-efficient accommodation for 920 students and outwith term time serves as a three-star alternative for tourists and golfers.