Nigel Martin

There have been rumours going round that the University may be intending to increase its student numbers with a corresponding impact on housing and rented accommodation in the City.

I am pleased to say that, after an exchange of e-mails between the Crossgate Partneship and the Vice Chancellor,  this will not happen in the near future.

The VC said the following:

“I don’t know who stated undergraduate intake would be increased by 250 next year because this is wrong.  Indeed, even if we wanted to increase numbers we would not be able to because the Government has cut all additional numbers.  There is a need for fewer, not more, multi-occupancy houses in Durham.

“I hope I have clarified University strategy.  We are not intending to increase undergraduate numbers in Durham City, and we have gradually reduced numbers over the past five years.  You will also notice that we have been very successful in bringing our students back into College and University properties which is why there are so many empty houses around Durham with estate agent signs.  Indeed, estate agents are writing to me complaining that their business is being undermined, showing our strategy is successful.  What is now needed is for the residents who inappropriately converted their houses into multi-occupancy properties to return them to family houses.  This will require the landlords working with the local Council and I would strongly support any such initiatives.  There are already too many multi-occupancy houses in Durham and it is a shame that so many were converted on ill-informed notions of student numbers. 

“I hope this helps and reassures you.  Anything you can do to work with the Council and landlords to prevent further conversion of private houses into multi-occupancy housing (I see some are still proposed in Whinney Hill) would be helpful.  The University supports this. … Anything you can do to work with the Council and landlords to prevent further conversion of private houses into multi-occupancy housing (I see some are still proposed in Whinney Hill) would be helpful.  The University supports this.

This is pretty definitive stuff and supports the view of most residents that we need to stop the conversion of family homes into student lettings.

The former City Council refused planning permission for a number of these conversions but was often overturned on appeal.

Let us hope that the County Council continue to oppose this trend and can hold the line against the continued loss of city-centre family housing.