Questions surrounding a potential boom in student numbers in the city must be addressed before the Tory-led Coalition sell-off of the new Council HQ.
County Durham Labour has demanded clarification on how the Coalition’s proposed sale of the newly complete “Waterside Building”, which was to be the County Council’s new HQ, to Durham University Business School (DUBS) will impact on student numbers in the city.
Councillors will tomorrow (Tuesday, July 5) decide on a change of use planning application, allowing Coalition councillors running the Council, to force through the sale of the state of the art building at The Sands, designed to meet the specific needs of the Council, to DUBS.
Forty-nine Labour Councillors signed a letter to planners calling for clarification on how increases in size, staffing numbers and students will impact on the city, before councillors decide on the change of use.
Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall said:
“Disposing of the recently-completed Waterside Building is a political decision by this regressive Coalition, but even so, it remains necessary to fully consider the impact the proposed change of use could have on the city, as part of the planning process.
“This major planning application has the potential to impact significantly on our city. This Council expects to simply wave through a change of use application for a building with capacity for 2,300 students and staff operating 24 hours per day. An application that essentially moves the base of almost a quarter of the Durham University student population from the campus into the city.
“When the Labour Council decided to build the Waterside Building, it was to replace an ailing County Hall, accommodate around 700 people and would have been utilised primarily in normal “working hours”. What is being suggested now is very different with very different potential impacts and we need assurances on how many students will be brought into the city with this sale before we begin considering its ownership.”
The application seeks change of use of the approximate 10,200 sq.m building to Higher Education Use. The Economic Impact of Durham University Business School Proposals Report lodged with planners states that in 2020/21 DUBS had an income of £79.7m, about a fifth of total Uni income. It’s anticipated staff numbers could rise from 262 in 2020/21 to 353 in 2031/32 and income grow from £79.7m to £118.2m. A 35% increase in staff and a 48% income increase.
Cllr Marshall added:
“At no point in any document is it stated what percentage of DUBS income is made up of student fees and how this increase is achieved without increasing student numbers.
“We recognise the critical role the Uni plays in the economic, cultural and social development of Durham. It is a driver of growth and fundamental to the future, but we must ensure all Durham City stakeholders – residents, businesses, retailers, leisure operators, cultural organisations, visitors and the University can co-exist and facilitate sustainable growth of the city.”
Deputy Labour Leader, Cllr Rob Crute added:
“We support University growth, but Durham City is the main service centre for the County and home to many residents who rely on the City for retail, social and cultural services and seek to maintain the quality and amenity it provides.
“Any University expansion that increases its presence in the city must be managed delicately and legitimate questions about the impact of this expansion on maintaining Durham as a sustainable centre serving the needs of residents must be answered before a decision is reached.
“Without this clarification, it is not possible to correctly determine the impact of the proposed development on issues such as access and movement, amenities of surrounding residents. Due process must be followed and if it isn’t, we will act accordingly and seek judicial review.”
Even a 20% increase in DUBS student numbers as part of the anticipated 48% increase in DUBS income would result in approximately 5,000 students being based at the Waterside Building. Durham University has stated it seeks to have a student population of 21,500 by 2027, the latest available figure from the University for number of students in December 2021 is 22,220.