Sports facilities are becoming a differentiator for universities battling to attract students. Tom Walker looks at some of the developments happening in higher education

Universities are enjoying a building spree. Up and down the UK, millions of pounds are being spent on facilities – including sports centres and health clubs.

This activity has stemmed from the government’s decision to allow universities to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 per year – a decision that came into effect in 2012. Since then, higher education has become a competitive market, with universities vying for students who are, in turn, looking for a return on their investment.

“For the first time ever, student recruitment is no longer under government control, creating a competitive market,” says Sue Holmes, director of estates and facilities at Oxford Brookes University.

A report by the Association of University Directors of Estate (AUDE) shows the dramatic effect the tuition fee decision has had. Within two years of the tuition fee hike, annual capital expenditure by British universities had jumped to £2.5bn – an unprecedented record figure.

George Griffith, head of university consulting and associate director at property giant CBRE, says that the competition for students has also been made tougher by a shift in population. “The demographic of our nation is changing, with the number of 18-year-olds in decline. This poses a challenge for universities as the need to attract the best students and staff is heightened.

“It means UK university estates, in the short term at least, will need to work even harder to ensure they have first-class, up-to-date facilities and services on offer.”

SPORTING FOCUS
Sports and fitness facilities are proving to be a major focus of investment and a powerful differentiator. One of the first major facilities to open as part of this new wave was the University of Cambridge Sports Centre, which opened in August 2013. Designed by Arup Associates, the £16m centre occupies a prominent position on campus.

Facilities include a multi-purpose sports hall with 16 court options; a space for martial arts, fitness classes and dance; a health club with fitness suite and conditioning rooms, as well as lecture space and a café.

At Birmingham University, a new £55m sports centre now houses the city’s only 50m swimming pool. In Exeter, the city’s university recently invested £10m on new facilities at its Penryn campus – of which £4m was spent on a new multi-use sports centre.

The University of Bath has attracted many of the region’s elite athletes with its new £30m Sports Training Village and a high performance gym.

University of Nottingham, meanwhile, recently opened its £40m David Ross sports centre, forming a key element of the university’s ‘Vision for Sport’ strategy.

“The centre is part of our ambition to create an outstanding, inspirational and accessible sports infrastructure for students, staff and the wider community,” says Dan Tilley, director of sport at the university. “The idea is to encourage people of all abilities to get involved in sport and activity, and allow them to rub shoulders with and train alongside some of the country’s leading athletes.”

There is little sign that the trend is slowing down. Universities in London are busy securing prime building plots, and the rush to secure land isn’t limited to the capital. In Wales, Aberystwyth University has announced an ambitious £100m building programme that includes a new seafront college. Meanwhile, in Cambridge, an entirely new suburb could be created two miles north-west of the city, if the university’s £1bn plans – which include impressive sports facilities – are realised.