New buildings for uni students ‘will be wasted’

The vice chancellor of Bath Spa University has confirmed there are no plans to expand and warned that “a lot speculative student development is going to be wasted”.

Speaking during an online conversation hosted by Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, Professor Sue Rigby said: “Both Bath Uni and ourselves have worked very hard to reinforce the understanding that we are not growing, and that means that an awful lot of this speculative student development is going to be wasted, because there aren’t going to be more students.”

Ms Hobhouse asked: “We have such restrictions on building in Bath that speculative student housing simply serves to damage the relationship between students and the city. How can we improve things?”

Prof Rigby replied: “We need to minimise the negative impact of students and maximise the positive impact they have in terms of their liveliness, their employability, their money, and their sense of being creators and makers. Bath needs a talent pool and can’t rely on just pulling people in mid or late career.”

To watch the event, visit www. werahobhouse.co.uk/werameets suerigby

On June 10, at 6pm, the Bath MP will be talking with the Rev Roger Driver, who hosted a pop-up PPE factory in his church. To join in the conversation, register at www.wera hobhouse.co.uk/werameetsroger