Three more DMU buildings considered for sale or letting amid £8m shortfall
DMU is considering sales or lettings at three Leicester buildings housing university services as it faces an £8m budget shortfall.
Three Leicester buildings housing university services and part of a faculty could be sold or let as De Montfort University tackles an £8m budget shortfall.
Edith Murphy House and Heritage House, on Southgates, and Bede House, in Western Boulevard, are understood to be under discussion, according to Leicester Mercury. Together, the sites accommodate library services, finance, IT and part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.
A DMU spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied that those buildings were being considered, saying the university had no confirmed updates.
More sites under consideration
The discussions would widen the university’s review of its Leicester estate. Earlier in the year, DMU confirmed it was exploring whether to leave, sell or lease out buildings, naming the Bede Island campus and Leicester Media School.
University leaders said at that stage they needed to “think differently” about its operations and make the estate “efficient and right-sized”.
Recruitment pressures and staff departures
DMU has previously linked its financial difficulties to government changes affecting UK Visas and Immigration practice. The university warned these would “severely restrict our ability to recruit overseas students from some countries”.
A staff letter sent in May warned of “significant shortfalls that will require further action”, with the position dependent on how many students arrived in the autumn.
The spokesperson said DMU was using its updated strategy to manage resources in response to financial pressures across universities. Alongside the property review, staff have been invited to express interest in leaving through a voluntary severance scheme.
Source: Leicester Mercury
