A pair of Durham University colleges are seeking to sell alcohol up to 2am.
John Snow College is due to move to a new home at Mount Oswald in time for the 2020/21 academic year, where it is due to be joined by South College – the university’s first new residential college in 14 years.
And to help new students settle in, education bosses have applied for permission for a range of activities on the sites, including the right to serve booze past midnight every day of the week.
Plans lodged with Durham County Council have asked for a licence to:
- Stage plays and screen films inside and outside between 10am – 2am
- Host sporting events, live music, dance and and anything else ‘of a similar description’ between 10am – 2am
- Sell alcohol for consumption on and off site between 10am – 2am
The university says it plans to serve alcohol no later than 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday, apart from for special events.
Separate licence applications have been made for the two colleges, both of which include a request to hold "up to a maximum of three outdoor events during June and July".
If approved this could mean the wider Mount Oswald site could host up to six events every year.
The university is sinking £80m into developing the site, which will also become home to a ‘University Hub’ building and ‘multi-use games area’, as well as the two colleges, which will have enough bed spaces for up to 1,000 students.
The former Mount Oswald Manor House is also earmarked to become the council’s new £17million Durham History Centre.
Members of the public have until Friday, February 28, to submit their thoughts on the proposals to DCC’s licensing department.
Professor Tim Luckhurst, principal of South College, and Professor Carolyn Summerbell, rincipal of John Snow College, said: “We are looking forward to opening a new home for John Snow College and the brand new South College at Mount Oswald in September 2020.
"Our aim is to be good neighbours and we are happy to meet any local residents to discuss any concerns or questions they may have.
“We intend to serve alcohol no later than 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday, except for a very small number of exceptions, which would be advertised in advance and strictly managed.”
