Willmott Dixon signs Royal Holloway halls contract

Willmott Dixon has confirmed that it is to build new student accommodation for Royal Holloway, University of London.

Willmott Dixon has been involved with the project in Surrey for more than a year, helping to develop the plans with architect Stride Treglown. The contract was procured under Scape’s major works framework.

The project provides rooms for 621 students in 56 three- and four-storey townhouses that will provide housing for eight or 12 students each. Each townhouse will have social and study spaces, receptions and laundries.

The new accommodation will allow Royal Holloway to guarantee rooms on its North Campus to first year undergraduates.

The project forms part of a masterplan to develop Royal Holloway’s historic estate into a campus that better meets the needs of students. Director of estates Michael Berry said: “This provides an exciting new model for student accommodation to serve Royal Holloway for years to come. Townhouses encourage communal living, with shared facilities and common areas, and our development among mature trees will include green spaces and sheltered paths connecting residences to the main campus.”

The Royal Holloway project follows similar schemes by Willmott Dixon, which includes remodelling Mardol House in Shrewsbury to create student accommodation for the new university, and new halls of residence at Moulton College in Northamptonshire. 

Charlie Scherer, chief operating officer of Willmott Dixon Housing said, “This is an excellent template for providing student accommodation and plays well into our housebuilding skill-sets.”