Morning, Wednesday, 8th July 2026
Online
This conference will examine the future of university estates in England, in light of the recently published Association of University Directors of Estates Strategic Plan 2025-2031, the Office for Students’ recent work on financial sustainability, and wider pressures shaping capital planning across the sector.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss next steps in implementation of the Strategic Plan, and what will be needed for estates teams to support a more integrated approach to financial resilience, digital transformation, environmental performance, and long‑term asset management. Attendees will explore priorities for translating the strategy’s focus on whole‑life planning, data‑driven decision‑making, and cross‑functional collaboration into operational practice - particularly in the context of intensified OfS scrutiny of institutional financial sustainability, including how estates functions can balance short‑term pressures with long‑term investment needs, and ensure that capital planning, borrowing capacity, and major estates programmes remain viable and strategically coherent.
Supporting learning & improving accessibility
The agenda will also examine the role of university estates in supporting high‑quality teaching and learning, including the embedding of hybrid learning environments, design of flexible and accessible spaces, and Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education expectations for environments that support teaching quality and student outcomes. Delegates will discuss how utilisation, timetabling, and space optimisation can respond to shifts in student expectations, as well as the balance between refurbishment and new builds in delivering adaptable, inclusive, and digitally enabled campuses. The role of university estates in improving participation, accessibility, and the needs of learners with varying modes of study, caring responsibilities, and access requirements will also be explored.
Civic responsibilities & climate resilience
Further sessions will address the sector’s responsibilities around climate action, net zero delivery, and civic engagement. Whole‑life carbon assessment, energy‑efficient refurbishment, and the decarbonisation of existing estates will also be considered, alongside approaches to climate resilience and adaptation to extreme weather risks. Delegates will discuss how universities can embed environmental performance into long‑term capital planning, and assess arrangements needed to ensure delivery is financially sustainable and operationally practical. The contribution of estates strategies to civic responsibilities, including partnerships with local authorities, NHS and public sector partners, and industry collaboration, and their role in regional growth, skills development, and community wellbeing, will also be assessed.
Overview of areas for discussion
- AUDE Strategic Plan 2025-2031:
- strategic priorities - early implementation aligning estates with financial, environmental, digital, and student experience objectives
- financial sustainability:
- rising operational costs - capital funding pressures - balancing maintenance vs new build - impact of reduced international student income
- net zero and climate resilience:
- decarbonisation - refurbishment vs new build - climate risk management - integrating sustainability into strategic planning
- planning reform and infrastructure policy:
- nationally significant infrastructure designation - faster planning approvals - local consent versus growth - risk management
- student expectations and utilisation:
- hybrid learning impacts - space efficiency - wellbeing-focused design - inclusive access
- teaching quality and learning environment:
- embedding high-quality teaching infrastructure - monitoring learning spaces - supporting academic outcomes
- community partnerships and civic responsibilities:
- campuses as anchors for regeneration - collaboration with local authorities and industry - shared facilities - community engagement
- risk and financial management:
- long-term planning - operational resilience - estate modernisation - future-proofing against demographic, technological, and regulatory change
