1. Durham University Residential Accommodation Strategy 2012 - 2020
Executive Summary
Prof. Graham Towl – Deputy Warden
Prof.Tom Allen - Head of Estates: The Colleges
Paulina Lubacz –Treasurer
Harvey Dowdy - Assistant Director Estates & Buildings

2. University Strategies
University Estate Strategy
Urgent need for a Residential Accommodation Strategy (RAS) identified
RAS submitted to Council July endorsed

3. The College Estate Aim: sustain a ‘collegiate university’
Collegiate Model ‘The Durham Difference’ USP
Colleges as ‘scholarly communities’
Student support and success
Leadership, employability
Support and guide recruitment
Loyalty and alumni
Research activity

4. College Communities
16 Colleges (varying sizes optimum to be determined)
All students are members
Residential Estate – current position:
All freshers accommodated in Durham; the majority in Stockton
Approaching half of postgrads’ in Durham; around a quarter in Stockton
About a quarter of undergraduate ‘returners’ in Durham; very few in Stockton
+ Fellows and Staff
+ bedrooms + social spaces + dining / catering + external areas
(sport and recreation)

5. RAS: Capacity and Quality
Quality: refurbishment programme
(Colleges Division estate to be improved to Cat.A / B – recent work at Castle; Grey, Trevelyan, Hatfield 2012/13 etc.)
Capacity: target in terms of proportion in residence
All freshers; available for all starting postgrads’
Enough returners for strong scholarly community
JCR Presidents’ Committee: serving livers-out – less effective
National Student Survey: Colleges with lowest proportion returners => lowest NSS participation
(key indicator 3rd party league tables)

6. Castle Refurbishment

7. Existing Accommodation Capacity∂
Existing Accommodation Capacity
For the 2012/13 academic year, around 6,600 bed-spaces will be available in University accommodation:
Around 5,700 in Durham City colleges
Around 900 in Stockton colleges
This excludes decant for refurbishments

8. Student Numbers By 2015/16, modest growth to:∂
Student Numbers
By 2015/16, modest growth to:
around 14,000 students in Durham City (an additional c.500)
around 2,500 students at Stockton (an additional c.500)
By 2019/20,
around 15,300 students in Durham City (+ 1,800 from 2012 baseline)
around 3,400 students at Stockton (+1,400 from 2012 baseline)

9. Proportion of livers-in without more capacity:
Capacity target range

10. Capacity targets ∂ 2015/16 50% 70% Durham City 1,250 4,050 Stockton
NB. this will still not allow for decant space for refurbishment or redevelopment
2015/16
50%
70%
Durham City
1,250
4,050
Stockton
730
2019/20
50%
70%
Durham City
1,950
5,000
Stockton
1,150
1,850

11. UEC/Council decisions
Target range proportion(s) of livers-in:
Minimum 50%
(an increase from the 43% currently accommodated)
Resulting need for new capacity i.e.
Small increased student population overall
+ desire to accommodate more existing students
+ provision of decant space to facilitate refurbishment
All accommodation to be on collegiate model
Immediate decisions: specific opportunities

12. Demand - Key Conclusions∂
Demand - Key Conclusions
We are at capacity in terms of our ability to offer a Durham residential experience to our students – in the short term returners and post-graduates will be ‘squeezed-out’ by first year undergraduates
By 2015/16 demand demonstrated for 1,000 bed spaces delivered as Colleges at each campus in order to maintain supply at around 43%
There is a medium/long-term need to increase our residential capacity

13. Supply - Key Assumptions / Constraints (1)∂
Supply - Key Assumptions / Constraints (1)
Internal and external approval processes (statutory planning) will not allow delivery of a substantial number of new bed spaces on DU-owned land before 2017 – 18 (whereas needed by 2015/16)
(sites investigated include Hild/Bede, Green Lane, Elvet Waterside, and infill sites at Hatfield and around the Hill Colleges - also Ushaw College: infill c.200 spaces
Agreed that DU / DCC will work together to deliver a Masterplan for the Hild / Bede site)
Any new developments will be designed on the DU collegiate model (as opposed ‘Halls of Residence’)

14. Supply - Key Assumptions / Constraints (2)∂
Supply - Key Assumptions / Constraints (2)
The DU Masterplan (2006) used to identify suitable sites for expansion :
(1) – on the north / south axis in Durham City
= Mount Oswald
(2) to the north of the River Tees in Stockton
= North Shore

15. Durham City – Site Availability

16. Stockton – Site Availability

17. Implications of DU Non-Investment
DU will not be able to meet ‘standstill’ targets for housing students by 2015/16
The private sector will intervene (possibly by 2015/16) – but to develop accommodation blocks not Colleges with associated student support, not necessarily in appropriate locations
Lack of private-rented accommodation - limited at both campuses forcing students to live further away (particularly from Stockton), adversely affecting the student experience and the local economy, also creates demand for conversion of properties to HMOs