Many of the rumours hanging over Imperial College halls of residence were answered today at the 4th meeting of the ICU accommodation committee. As expected, hall rents are set for another 'above inflation' increase. Rents for the 2004-2005 session will be rising by an average of 4.8%, with Beit and the other premier halls seeing a 6% increase. To compensate for this rents in the halls that urgently require renovation, Fisher and Southside, will only see modest increases of 3% next year. This rent increase, considered in conjunction with the large jump imposed last year of an average of 10%, will bring an ensuite, single room in Beit up to a cost of £135 per week.
Although this was important information, some of the other issues discussed at the meeting were even more startling. With three halls currently earmarked for renovation, Fisher, Linstead and the Southside complex, it was made clear that the cheapest refurbishment option, with a total saving of nearly £10million, would see both Linstead and Southside shut at the same time. Southside is currently earmarked for closure in June 2005 but if Linstead were to close at the same time the Fisher refurbishment would be pushed back to summer 2007 at the earliest. It was also suggested that Southside, due to the current high costs of maintenance, might not be reopen in October 2004, which would come as a shock to those reapps and subwardens already planning to live there next year.
This possible double closure, taking 550 beds out of the accommodation system, would see a dramatic decrease in hall space, putting serious pressure on the first year guarantee. Rough calculations carried out by Katherine McGinn, Deputy President for Education and Welfare, showed that, in the event of both halls shutting at the same time, the first year guarantee could just be met if all available space in Imperial College halls was utilised. This however takes into account space at Clayponds and Parsons House which are currently used by older undergraduates and many PhD students new to Imperial. A need to find alternative accommodation therefore will become pressing if both Southside and Linstead were to be shut at the same time. When questioned about the first year guarantee, Sharine Brown, Head of Residences, admitted looking into alternative accommodation for first year undergraduates that could be obtained on a short term basis to cover any shortfall in October 2005.
The reduction in available hall space for the 2005-2006 session has also been increased by two other strategic moves currently being undertaken. The first will see the closure of Brabazon in June, with the loss of 70 postgraduate spaces. The second move is the rolling reduction of capacity in Evelyn Gardens which will see many small double rooms converted into larger, more expensive singles. The loss of Brabazon has been on the cards since the start of this academic year but will only add to the confusion about where future postgraduate students will live when they arrive in London. As the Rector, Sir Richard Sykes, has made clear on many occasions recently, the value of postgraduate research at Imperial has been promoted due to extra money that can be attracted to college. The loss of good housing for incoming PhD students may have a negative impact, coupled with London's high living costs, when Imperial tries to attract the cream of research talent.
Other questions were also raised about facilities that could be lost if the Southside complex were to close early. It was made clear that the Health Centre, dentist and Southside gym would remain open even if the hall above was to close in 2004. However, many new questions have now been raised as an outcome of this meeting.
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