The University of Aberdeen has made over £2.25 million after a selling-spree which saw 13 properties sold.
The university also sold a 250-acre site in Bucksburn earlier this month. Developers have planned that 1,200 homes will be built on the Rowett South area, seeing £17 million of investment from Bancon Homes.
As part of the sales, the university has sold 10 residential properties and one storage unit.
The residential properties included houses in Old Aberdeen, College Bounds, and Bucksburn after inheriting several properties from the Rowett Institute merger in 2008.
There was recent uproar at an Old Aberdeen Community Council meeting after the university listed the historic 15 High Street to let in May.
The property has been left vacant for over 20 years, with one local bashing the university over its “neglect” of historic buildings.
The sale of 34 and 36 College Bounds also raised concerns after planning permission was submitted to turn the three-floor property into an eight-bedroom HMO.
Chair of the Community Council, David Craick, stressed that the increased density of HMO properties risks the “loss of permanent residents.”
The university also noted that they have seven properties for sale at the time of writing, with one being on the market for over 3 years.
The university refused to note the amount of unused properties they own that are not currently on the market.
This comes as Principal Pete Edwards said that he wants to cash in and “commercialise the historic campus.”
He told the //P&J//, “We’ve got some truly stunning spaces in Old Aberdeen, and some wonderful venues.
“And if the university is not using them, there’s no reason that we couldn’t be using them for other purposes.”
The Gaudie recently revealed that the university is spending over £200,000 renovating the principal’s residence at The Chanonry Lodge. The space will be turned into a reception and events space for guests at the university after the Principal revealed that he will not be residing in the historic mansion.
The University and College Union (UCU) hit back at the decision to transform the principal’s residence, saying:
“The news of hundreds of thousands of pounds being allocated to doing up university premises for drinks receptions is a slap in the face to these hard-working staff.”
The university announced a £10 million savings plan in June of this year. As part of the plan, the university plans to cut 111 full-time equivalent jobs.
University staff released a plea to the university to “monetise the campus more” with the increased footfall from cruise ship tourists.
The sold properties appeared to have contributed to the now projected £4 million surplus that the university is forecasting by 2028, the first time they have not run a deficit since 2023.
The university noted the need to offload the properties, with a spokesperson saying:
“These have been vacant properties located away from our campus, or properties in a state of disrepair, with expensive ongoing maintenance liabilities not needed for core University business or financially beneficial to the University to retain. Selling them was commercially, by far, the best option for the University.”
