1000 more beds needed by 2029

More new building by the University of Otago appears certain as a forecast shows it will need 1000 more beds in the next decade.

The university said 55 students were still waiting for places in residential colleges this year because they were all full.

That could mean new colleges were required.

The forecast for the next 10 years takes into account the 120 beds that will potentially be lost from Te Rangi Hiroa College in Castle St, due to the redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital.

Campus and collegiate life services director James Lindsay said options for providing more accommodation could include developing new colleges.

However, other options were major refurbishments and extensions to existing buildings.

"Our residential colleges are vital to the university and Dunedin," he said.

"Many school leavers from outside Dunedin rethink their decision about Otago if they cannot stay in a residential college and many Dunedin school leavers want a college experience as well."

Further discussion about the options available is expected at University Council meetings later this year.

The statement follows the release of information in the Mayor's Taskforce for Housing interim report to the Dunedin City Council last November that the university might develop two 350-bed buildings.

The university declined to comment on the task force report at the time, and no further information on the specifics of the university's plans was available yesterday afternoon.

A capital feasibility report last year showed the university had also put aside $1 million to work on a concept design and full business case for a replacement for Te Rangi Hiroa.

This weekend's statement said no decisions had been made yet about the future of Te Rangi Hiroa, and all proposed projects would need to gain University Council approval.

Mr Lindsay, speaking to university magazine Otago Bulletin, said the university was committed to the "collegiate way", aimed at supporting students through residential colleges, and creating well-rounded citizens.

That was in contrast to some other universities that used other companies to own or run an increasingly large share of student accommodation.

University-owned colleges house about 2550 students and affiliated colleges, which have other owners, house about 940.

Otago's University Flats hold about 760 students.

A university spokesman was unavailable to comment on what the university's predicted roll for 2029 was.