Fairfax House, the Vanbrugh accommodation block situated on Heslington Road, has changed hands for the current academic year, with York St John taking the lease up on the 90-room listed building.
Applications by students to on-campus Vanbrugh blocks and the University as a whole have fallen since the implementation of the £9,000 fees which, coupled with the opening of Langwith College on Heslington East, has meant there is a surplus of study bedrooms.
In contrast, St John has seen an increase in applications, hence the decision to take up the option of 50 rooms in Fairfax House.
Fairfax, which has been student accommodation for a number of years, initially for post-graduates, has been plagued by facilities issues, garnering a reputation as dilapidated and isolated. However, student committees in the past two years have made significant improvements, such as refurbishments to study bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as additions to the breakfast service provided by the University.
However, it is believed that there are long term plans to keep Fairfax on the roster of accommodation for University of York students, by using the rent from York St John to complete a total refurbishment of the block.
Meanwhile, 2nd year Fairfax residents who were due to be STYCs in the block, have been re-assigned to Donald Barron and Barbara Scott courts.
YUSU President Kallum Taylor said: “It’s a shame, especially with the progress made.
“There’s no getting away from a shortfall in applications to the university. Better to section a block off than have 2/3 spare rooms per floor, per block.
“They’ll be using the rent from the St John’s students for a proper refurbishment, which was the initial plan, only current Uni of York students would’ve paid for it!”