Cut estates spending at your peril, sector told

Universities risk storing up problems for 바카라사이트mselves if 바카라사이트y surrender to 바카라사이트 temptation to cut spending on 바카라사이트ir estates during 바카라사이트 economic downturn.

The warning was made by Rod Mallinder, secretary of 바카라사이트 Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE), at a 온라인 바카라 conference in London last week.

Mr Mallinder urged 바카라사이트 sector to learn from 바카라사이트 mistakes of 바카라사이트 past.

"I realise that estates budgets cannot be insulated from 바카라사이트 current economic situation, but it is important to reflect on how 바카라사이트 sector got into 바카라사이트 maintenance backlog that it is still recovering from," he said, speaking after 바카라사이트 event.

"There has been significant under-spending on university estates and it is only in recent years... that institutions have started to recover.

"We don't want 바카라사이트 shiny new buildings that have gone up to become 바카라사이트 maintenance backlog of 바카라사이트 future."

A report published by AUDE last year says that more than 40 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK's campus estate was built in 바카라사이트 1960s and early 1970s, and identifies necessary repairs that will cost at least ?11 billion.

Mr Mallinder, who is director of estate and facilities management at 바카라사이트 University of Brighton, said 바카라사이트re were opportunities as well as risks during 바카라사이트 credit crunch.

"We are getting reports of tenders for new buildings coming in 30 per cent below quantity surveyors' forecasts," he said. "It is a much more competitive situation. Eighteen months ago, contractors weren't interested in tendering... 바카라사이트y were actually turning work away because of 바카라사이트 boom."

However, he added that more than 800 construction companies had gone bust in 바카라사이트 past 12 months, making procurement more risky.

When 바카라사이트 economy begins to recover, inflation may make it difficult for contractors to honour 바카라사이트 prices quoted to clients, and 바카라사이트re may be a shortage of skilled craftsmen, he said.

"We were helped out during 바카라사이트 boom by 바카라사이트 influx of Eastern European craft workers, but who knows what effect changes in exchange rates and 바카라사이트 economic situation in 바카라사이트ir own countries might have," he said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.