Dundee University puts former principal's home on market

Dundee University is selling the five-bedroom home previously used by its former principal as part of plans to tackle a £35m deficit.

University House and Elmslea Cottage in the city's west end are on the market for offers over £825,000.

The university previously announced plans to cut 632 jobs, but said this week the true figure could be as high as 700.

Part of the university's financial recovery plan includes "asset disposals including property."

University House is described by estate agent Savills as a "magnificent Italianate style Victorian townhouse, dating from about 1865."

An upper floor flat in the property was refurbished in 2018.

The house was previously home to former principal Prof Iain Gillespie, who resigned in December, and his predecessor Andrew Atherton who quit in 2019.

The property is owned by the university and was leased to its principals.

Elmslea Cottage, which is included in the sale, is the building's original gate lodge and includes three bedrooms.

Interim principal Prof Shane O'Neill told MSPs last month he was given the "false assumption" last year that the university was close to breaking even despite having a £12.3m operating deficit at the time.

In a follow-up letter to Holyrood's education committee, he also said efforts to bridge the £35m deficit would likely involve compulsory redundancies.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) approved a £22m support package for Dundee University last month in the wake of the financial crisis.

The professor told staff on Tuesday in an email seen by BBC Scotland News that "intensive work" had taken place with stakeholders since his appearance before MSPs to explore "alternative paths to financial sustainability."

He said: "The University Executive is actively engaged with the SFC to develop an alternative plan with a much reduced impact on our staffing numbers and we hope to present this to the Scottish government very soon."