Future Development

 A Mightier Hild Bede   

Hild Bede is on an amazing site which is notable for some historic buildings but also some older stock within the University estate. We are engaged in an exciting plan aiming to invest to refurbish and develop the College so that it continues to offer the best possible experience for staff, students, the wider College community and other users. 

We look forward to working with the staff, students and wider College community at Hild Bede to realising any development.  

Accommodation for 23/24 

Following on from 2022/23, Hild Bede will continue to provide a blended model for college accommodation for the academic year 2023/24. This will include around 250 rooms at Hild Bede Riverside, offered on a catered basis and 250 rooms at Ernest Place, offered on a self-catered basis. This will help to ensure that we are able to continue to offer all our first year students college managed accommodation, within easy reach of the city centre.  

Additional rooms (supplementary to the 250 provided for Hild Bede students) at Ernest Place will also be available for students from other colleges, including an allocation for returning and Postgraduate students.  

Refurbishment and redevelopment 

A project team, which includes representation from our College, is involved in a market engagement exercise to progress with the refurbishment and redevelopment of Hild Bede and the wider Leazes Road site. This work is scheduled to start in Summer 2024. Currently, we are looking for a suitable commercial partner to work with us on this project. 

A temporary home while work is undertaken  

We are pleased to say that we are currently working with Unite, the owners of Rushford Court, to develop their existing site in Durham city. Our plans will further enhance the student experience, and provide the facilities associated with a Durham University College.   

These plans include the offer of flexible spaces to provide common rooms, a College café bar and study and creative areas. In addition, we are also exploring the option of a new gym and College staff offices. Please note, all are subject to planning approval. 

Rushford Court will then become a future temporary home for Hild Bede, while refurbishment and redevelopment work takes place at our Riverside home, and longer term, this will provide the University with a new, 18th college.  

We are actively engaging with our Colleges and the wider local community to ensure we understand the needs of all stakeholders and meet these needs. 

Upon receiving the approval of the planning application for the college facilities, we will be able to confirm a timeline for the works, but please note, due to the challenges and uncertainly in the current climate, we do not anticipate work to be complete before the start of the 2024/25 academic year.  

This page will be updated as works progress.