Strategic estate planning

"providing high quality accommodation for teaching and learning."

Colin Blair, the Director of Estates and Facilities, assisted by members of his team and external consultants, manages directly the following areas of operation: -

• Strategic Estate Planning
• Property Acquisitions
• Property Disposals
• Strategic Estates Financial Planning
• Estate/leases/licences
• Strategic Space Management

Estates and Facilities are committed to providing high quality accommodation for teaching and learning. The aim of the estate strategy is to develop and maintain the best possible teaching and learning environment for students and staff. The University has completed the process of concentration of its current teaching and learning facilities on the single campus at Queensgate.

Future success in widening access to higher education depends on providing opportunities within areas where participation is low. Taking education to students will become as important as bringing students to education. In partnership with further education colleges and with employers, the University will implement policies to provide higher education closer to the students' homes.

Objectives

• To provide a safe, cost effective, healthy, attractive and well equipped environment for learning and for working.
• To invest prudently to improve the University's competitive position.
• To link new estate developments with the academic development of the University.
• To provide HE in areas of low participation
• To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the estate
• To implement a policy of spatial coherence and improve quality, effectiveness and efficiency by concentrating schools and services in single areas of the campus.
• To allocate space according to need.

Key Performance Targets (2006)

Over the period of the plan the University will: -

• Complete the production and publication of the Estate Strategy and Capital Plan (2005 - 2015)
• Progress the Queensgate Phase 5 (new building) project to achieve completion by the end of 2007, within budget and at quality
• Complete the disposal of surplus estate and Storthes Hall Park and ensure maximum return from any planning gain achieved
• Complete the disposal of the Kings Mill Lane car park and maximise the capital return
• Appoint a Space Manager and increase the level of proactive space management of the academic estate
• Complete DDA Phase 2 and ensure that the maximum grant is drawn down from HEFCE. Commence DDA Phase 3 works
• Complete the refurbishment of the University Centre Barnsley
• Produce, have approved and implement an accommodation strategy for the University Centre Oldham
• Identify and implement innovative methods of communications within Estates and Facilities, throughout the University and the local community
• Continue to develop the skill base within Estates and Facilities to enable the achievement of service area KPIs
• Develop and seek comment upon a Green Travel Policy and Plan
• Develop and seek comment upon an Environmental Policy and Plan
• Complete the remodeling of the Catering Services management provision

New Initiatives

The new initiatives identified in the Annual Plan (2005) were generally seen as long term goals and therefore the information below identifies progress made and ongoing targets. It is planned that the cost associated with all the initiatives can be met from the current DevRev allocation or carry forward unless specifically stated.

The implementation of an interactive Estates and Facilities electronic help desk facility has commenced with the appointment of a consultant to prepare tender documentation. It is anticipated that the IT package will be purchased in 2006 and fully operational for January 2007.

The increased management of security and car parking is currently being met by an outsourced resource. It is intended that this will be brought in-house in 2006

The improvement of the quality of the external environment of the Queensgate campus is ongoing and the financial contribution will be met from the existing DevRev allocation or linked to specific capital projects.

It is planned through the introduction of a Space Manager and the redefinition of the duties of the Space Administrator, to increase the level of proactive space management.

The implementation of the initial phase of a Green Travel Strategy has commenced with the provision of designated parking for bicycles/motorcycles after detailed discussions with staff in focus groups. Investigations have been made into car sharing schemes and the proactive support of public transport. It is intended to discuss further the feasibility of a ‘Town Hopper’ minibus service calling at the University and a Park and Ride scheme based at the Galpharm Stadium.

Awareness within the University of its positive performance in recycling has been raised through Huddle and other published information. The topic is also included in the staff induction element delivered by Estates and Facilities. In 2006 it is planned to widen local recycling within the University and consolidate the central recycling schemes that currently exist.

As no additional funding was identified by PRC in the 2005 planning round to increase the level of internal redecoration the programme remained as previously planned. Estates and Facilities are to commission a survey of the academic estate to grade the ‘suitability’ of individual rooms. This will enable financial resources, when available, to be allocated on a ‘need’ basis and a detailed programme of refurbishment work to be developed.