Campus expansion plans compromised by early difficulties
The £500 million plan for the Heslington East campus expansion is falling behind schedule already, as concerns are being raised about financial issues and planning constraints.
Under the original schedule, the Phase One planning application was to have been lodged in mid-October. However, at the time of going to print, the University is still in negotiations with preferred architects BDP.
In a recent statement, the University said that it was “still working on the planning application for Phase One of the University expansion,” and that “the initial planning application is likely to be before the City of York Council early in the New Year.”
Phase One of the development includes the departments of Theatre Film and Television and Electronics, a central hub structure incorporating social space and a lecture theatre, and the new Goodricke College.
The Heslington East expansion was given government approval in May 2007 and, if building plans are approved, will contain six departments, four colleges, sports, catering, bar and conference facilities.
It will be built on green-belt land east of Heslington Village, and will raise the University’s student population to 15,400. Features of the new campus will include an advanced sports facility, including an 8-lane swimming pool, a dance and martial arts studio, climbing wall and a three court indoor tennis hall, an internal transit system and two 550-seat restaurants.
There are also plans to build a central multi-purpose 1500 capacity student venue at which large-scale events such as Freshers’ Ball and Grad Ball can be held.
Ben Wardle, current Goodricke JCRC Chair, said: “On the whole it’s still looking really good. We’ve got fantastic architects, the designs are looking amazing, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for everyone involved.”
However, he expressed concern “that people will be moving into a building site, and things won’t be completed in time for the new campus to be open in 2009-2010.
“It always was an ambitious target,” he added. “I think now we’d be very, very lucky to make it through, though I still am hopeful that we will.”
Goodricke College currently runs one of the most successful campus bars, McQ’s, but architectural concept drawings of the new college do not feature a bar.
Wardle, who sits on the Heslington East Working Group which discusses plans for the new Goodricke, said: “It seems that some of the original, very exciting plans had to be scaled down a bit due to financial issues and the fact that at the end of the day everything’s got to fit into a budget.
“They’re not going to go on and keep college bars, by the looks of things at the moment. The student venue’s been brought forward, from the information I’ve been told, and hopefully that’ll be done as soon as possible.”
However, Jane Clarbour, Goodricke College Provost, said: “Everything’s under discussion, there’s been no final decisions made as far as I’m aware.” David Garner, the University’s Press Officer, said: “No final decision has been taken on anything in terms of the detail, because the planning application is still being developed.” He concluded: “The decision on bars has not been taken.”
