University ‘is key to city’s future’

COUNCIL leader Mike Jones wants to harness the economic dynamism of the University of Chester to bring benefits for the wider community.

It is estimated the university is worth £150m a year to the local economy – and it is envisaged that figure could grow to almost £250m.

While public bodies and businesses hunker down to weather the financial storm, the irrepressible university stands like a shining beacon of hope.

Cllr Jones, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, wants to sell County Hall, which he understands would house up to three faculties, to the university for £10.5m.

“It would bring life to Lower Bridge Street and the river frontage,” said Cllr Jones, who believes it would complement plans to build a new theatre on the Little Roodee car park.

“We want to create some public open space and the theatre and conference venue we have talked about, in terms of the feasibility study, would bring that river frontage alive.”

Cllr Jones said the relocation of the council headquarters to the nearby HQ building would ensure the offices ‘do not stand empty for five years’.

He said the Cheyney Road university is allowed to grow at a rate of 5% per year, but it is currently constrained by the size of its campus.

“The university puts into the local economy £150m per year. If it grows by 60% over the next 10 years it will be putting into the local economy not far short of £250m.”

The university has seen tremendous growth rates in recent years. From an income of £40m in 2003/04 and with about 10,000 students, it now enjoys an income of £67m and has about 15,000 students.

Despite the recession, university spokesman Andrew Morrison said he does not believe income next year will be ‘significantly different’ with an expected ‘modest increase in student numbers’.

However, the council recognises the growth in the student population can transform the character of a neighbourhood leading to resentment from locals, as had happened in the Garden Lane area.

Cllr Jones said he supports the university’s plan to create a student village on land off Parkgate Road along with other schemes which he believes will relieve the pressure.

He would like Chester and District Housing Trust to buy back some of the houses turned into multiple occupancy properties to ‘bring families back’ into Garden Lane.