Belfast Met have announced that due to a hostile fiscal environment and the campus’ urgent need for a potential £10million worth of repairs, it has had to make the difficult decision to consider the feasibility of continuing to keep the college open.

A 12-week consultation is to open and will decide on whether or not to outsource the college’s provisions to other Belfast Met colleges.

“While I am extremely disheartened to see that the future of the campus is uncertain, given the current political environment and unprecedented cuts to funding, this is the kind of announcement we almost expect to see and I find that unacceptable.”

“The college provides vital opportunities to people in East Belfast and from all across the city and is a lifeline for those wanting to further their careers and educational credentials. The closure of the campus would leave a huge hole in the community and have a ripple effect on the immediate area.” 

“I have requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive and Principal of Belfast Met to discuss the need for this consultation process and would encourage those impacted by a potential closure to engage with this process for their views to be heard."