黑洞社区 Live: Universities detail major planned schemes, but warn of 鈥榲ery painful鈥� construction cost rises
The University of Glasgow and the London School of Economics have shared their estate strategies and development plans with the 黑洞社区 Live conference.
Speaking at the event, Ann Allen, director of estates and buildings at the University of Glasgow, revealed the university has acquired 14,500 acres of land and has 拢165m to spend on construction projects.
Allen said: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have the same market volatility as others have. At University of Glasgow, we have money to spend. You鈥檙e looking at a sector with funding there. It鈥檚 a huge opportunity.鈥�
Julian Robinson, director of estates at the London School of Economics, said the university has around 鈥溌�500m capital鈥� to spend on development programmes over the next 10 years.
Among the major projects planned at LSE include a 拢123m development due to be completed by 2019.
The university has also recently shortlisted six architects including David Chipperfield, Amanda Lavete and Herzog & de Meuron, following an international design competition, for another 拢100m plus redevelopment.
However, Robinson also criticised the local planning environment in London, describing land availability in the city as 鈥渆xcruciating鈥�, and also criticised cost inflation.
He said: 鈥淐onstruction costs are very painful. We can鈥檛 pass the costs on, so we have to swallow them. That鈥檚 a big issue for us.鈥�
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