Sheffield homes: MP ramps up pressure on Hallam University to use campus site for housing to save green belt
A Sheffield MP has ramped up calls for a historic university campus to be used for housing.
Clive Betts urged Sheffield City Council to work with with Sheffield Hallam University to get Collegiate Campus “ready for development.”
Last year, the university announced plans to leave the 22-acre site off Ecclesall Road.
It triggered a letter from Sheffield MPs calling for it to be converted to residential use.
Sheffield City Council is under pressure to build thousands of homes to meet government targets and has controversially earmarked 14 sites on green belt land.
Sheffield Hallam University says it must save £30m this year, on top of £40m last year.
Collegiate Campus has more than 20 buildings - seven listed - between Ecclesall and Clarkehouse roads and is estimated to be worth £40m.
It could also house thousands of residents.
Mr Betts said: “We need to see a fairer distribution of sites across Sheffield and Collegiate Campus remains a perfect example of how that can be done.
*The council needs to be co-ordinating with Hallam University to get this site ready for development given Hallam University has said it won’t continue to operate the site in the future.”
Last year, Sheffield Hallam University announced plans to sell two city centre buildings: Aspect Court on Pond Hill, which it bought for £8.8m, and the ‘Oneleven’ building on Arundel Gate which it purchased for £4.4m.
It also launched its £140m City Campus on Howard Street in the city centre.
A spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam University said Collegiate Campus would be home to students “for years” but work on longer term plans was underway.
“Collegiate Campus continues to be home for thousands of students and staff from our College of Health, Wellbeing and Lifesciences and will be an important part of our estate for some years to come.
“Work to consider options for longer-term plans for the Campus is ongoing and no decisions have been made.”
A Sheffield City Council spokesperson directed queries to the university.
Government inspectors are considering the authority’s proposals to meet those targets.
As well as brownfield plots, it has put forward plans to use 14 sites in green belt.
Mr Betts has previously protested at proposals for 1,638 homes - 40 per cent of the total - in one Handsworth postcode, in his constituency.