Sustainably designed and stylish new 188 bed building sits in a prime location with the Leeds student’s district… GMI Construction Group, has today announced that it has completed construction of a new 188 bed student accommodation block for Maple Grove Developments at a prime site in Leeds. The development known
GRAHAM has topped out at the University of York’s £130 million flagship student accommodation project, which was built in only 58 weeks with a room completed at a rate of every 1.5 hours. Supporting the University of York’s “Campus for the Future” masterplan, the 1,480-bed scheme is helping to transform
CONYGAR STUDENT LIVING SCHEME WILL BE 12-STOREY ‘BEACON’ FOR CITY THE LATEST phase of The Island Quarter development is set to help alleviate Nottingham’s student bed shortage, after plans for the next stage of the site were yesterday (22 September) approved by Nottingham City Council. The approved plans – drawn
Leading construction and fit out company, Gilbert-Ash has moved on site to commence work at a new 500-bedroom student hotel in the heart of Glasgow. The £50 million design and build contract will see the development of The Student Hotel (TSH) as part of a £300 million masterplan in the
The decision means Godwin Developments has secured approval for 1000+ units this week following the approval of The Meridian in Sheffield. PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting office into a 692-bed student living development took a step forward today (Wednesday, 18th August) after members of the
Study Inn Group, a luxury hotel-style student accommodation owner, developer, and operator are set to convert Reynard House, a former office block in Leicester, into a 267-bed high quality purpose-built student accommodation centre. The £30million redevelopment will increase the overall square footage of the existing Reynard House by 50% with
Developer Southern Grove Group today unveils a £55million mixed-use student accommodation scheme for London’s Hackney Wick that will help turn the area into one of the most vibrant off-campus communities in London. The Broadwood Piano Works will create over 200 bedrooms on Fish Island with co-working facilities, a gym and
Building will be 15 storeys high at its highest point and is designed to provide affordable student living within an environment to support health and well-being. GMI Construction, a leading main contractor to a growing portfolio of public and private clients throughout the UK has announced that it has been
UK RESIDENTIAL and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has submitted proposals for a 692-unit purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Nottingham city centre, on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The plans, lodged with Nottingham City Council at the end of last week, propose the demolition of
Following the recent planning approval of a new mixed-use student accommodation development in central Brighton, developer McLaren Property reveals what the local community can expect from the scheme. Located on London Road, within Brighton’s regeneration area, the development will see an outdated building being replaced with new sustainable retail units
Sustainably designed and stylish new 188 bed building sits in a prime location with the Leeds student’s district… GMI Construction Group, has today announced that it has completed construction of a new 188 bed student accommodation block for Maple Grove Developments at a prime site in Leeds. The development known as Oak House is situated in Park Lane in the Belle Vue district of Leeds’s student district and took 82 weeks to build. It offers a combination of 9 high-spec studio flats, and 30 shared flats for 4 to 8 students. Its impressive communal spaces include a large lounge area with space for private and group study, and a stunning outdoor terrace with seating. Tenants will have free access to the on-site cardio studio and secure bike storage, and rent includes all bills, TV licence and personal possessions insurance. All flats are spacious and modern, with double beds, en-suite bathrooms, and are equipped to a high standard with smart TVs, in flat washer-dryers and super-fast internet (up to 200Mb/s wired and 100Mb/s wireless). Oak House is the ideal place for students wanting high quality, sustainable living in a great city centre location. Talking about the project GMI Divisional Managing Director Lee Powell said: “GMI is proud to have been trusted to deliver this superb new student accommodation facility in the historic community of Little Woodhouse in this outstanding part of Leeds. This is a sustainable development which provides a positive impact within the conservation area including improvements to open space and the provision of high-quality student accommodation, with good levels of amenity, in a sustainable location close to the established universities. Getting this project complete and over the line constitutes a great team effort and on behalf of GMI I would like to thank and congratulate all involved. This is the 10th student accommodation development that GMI has completed to date as we continue to build upon our offering and credentials in this sector” Maple Grove Developments’ Managing Director Karen Hirst continued: “This is the latest development we have completed in the PBSA sector, which is showing great resilience and continued interest for funders. Looking ahead, we are currently evaluating future student development schemes.” Tony Vyse, Assistant Chief Executive – Development from Incoming tenant Unipol also commented: “After such a difficult time during the global pandemic and the aftermath of supply chain issues, Unipol and more importantly, the residents, are extremely happy with the finished product that completed on time. Oak House reflects Unipol’s values to provide well-priced accommodation and creates a living environment that encourages socialisation and well-being, which is part of our educational mission. Unipol has now commenced a long-term deal which will provide quality housing for students for the next 25 years. Personally, as an active member of the project team throughout the entire design and build, I’d like to thank all parties involved in what has been a very successful scheme, which ultimately benefits Unipol’s portfolio, students for the next quarter of a century and the community of Little Woodhouse.” The architect on the development was DLA. To take an exclusive tour around the development visit:
GRAHAM has topped out at the University of York’s £130 million flagship student accommodation project, which was built in only 58 weeks with a room completed at a rate of every 1.5 hours. Supporting the University of York’s “Campus for the Future” masterplan, the 1,480-bed scheme is helping to transform the Heslington East Campus and will act as a stimulus for the university’s recruitment strategy while meeting the demands of its expanding global student body. GRAHAM is using a state-of-the-art off-site manufacturing facility in the north of England to deliver the scheme, enhancing the quality, safety, and sustainability of the construction programme. Key elements of the development include modular external sandwich panels, prefabricated steel bathroom pods, and pre-assembled services distribution racks. Overall, the project comprises 18 blocks, which house the en-suite bedrooms and 200 living rooms/kitchens, plus 18,000 sq ft of steel frame social Hubs spread over two buildings. In addition to influencing design in partnership with the architects Sheppard Robson and executing the project build, GRAHAM is also a key project investor as part of a consortium. Neil McFarlane, GRAHAM Strategic Projects Director: “Topping out at the University of York in the timeframe that we have is a monumental milestone that deserves to be celebrated. Despite the challenges thrown our way by Brexit and Covid-19, we held firm and adapted where we could with our supply chain to deliver within our programme. In just 290 working days, we have erected all the superstructures with minimal disruption using MMC, which has accelerated the build while maintaining quality and environmental standards. Now, we can look ahead to completion and bringing the campus properly to life in this last, but significant chapter of the project.” Hugh Crossley, Equitix CEO: “We commend all our partners at the University, GRAHAM and Derwent for their perseverance and resilience in delivering this crucial infrastructure on programme amidst the challenges of a global pandemic. It is a remarkable achievement. The topping out at the new residences celebrates a significant milestone in Equitix’s 50 year relationship with the University of York. Importantly, it also celebrates significant progress towards a new college that will enable future generations of students to embark upon their University life in an environment that promotes wellbeing, community and sustainability. Equitix focuses on developing and delivering schemes that provide a ‘Best in Class’ Student Experience and, working with GRAHAM, the outcomes delivered here have exceeded expectations.” Completion is planned in time for the 2022 academic year.
CONYGAR STUDENT LIVING SCHEME WILL BE 12-STOREY ‘BEACON’ FOR CITY THE LATEST phase of The Island Quarter development is set to help alleviate Nottingham’s student bed shortage, after plans for the next stage of the site were yesterday (22 September) approved by Nottingham City Council. The approved plans – drawn up by DAY Architectural for The Conygar Investment Company PLC – feature an up-to-12-storey, 702-bed purpose-built student development, featuring blocks dedicated to a range of accommodation types including studios and cluster living. Amenities for the students in this latest phase of The Island Quarter include high-level sky lounges that offer projected views across the city and a pavilion with views onto a private courtyard space that will provide the opportunity for working, socialising, dining and exercising. The approved plans also feature multi-media lounges and co-working spaces, as well as gaming zones and quiet areas for study and relaxation. The new accommodation – which forms part of the developer’s plans for intergenerational living on The Island Quarter, the £1 billion 36-acre redevelopment – is likely to start on site shortly and be available for students from the start of the 2023/24 academic year. With Nottingham facing an expected shortfall of 7,000 student beds in the coming years, the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) on The Island Quarter will free up family homes currently used by students and help return them to their intended use. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “We’re delighted that the planning committee has approved the plans for the proposed student accommodation on The Island Quarter. Nottingham is a world-renowned university city, and the student population is growing rapidly to reflect that. Add in the demand from second- and third-year students to remain in PBSA, and it is clear there is a real need for quality student beds in the city. “This element of the scheme really supports our plans for intergenerational living across the site. One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic has been that people of all ages are reassessing their relationship with where they live, and we want to create places and spaces where people can live, work and thrive.” David Jones, director at planning consultant AXIS, said: “This phase will be a real step forward for the development as a whole. The location of this phase – right next to BioCity and close to Sneinton – means that it will act as a beacon, bringing life to the eastern edge of the site and providing a space that will draw people into The Island Quarter.” The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, including hotels and hospitality, office space and community living. Recent changes to the plan were made in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, adding 10,000sqm more green space to the site and rethinking the street plan to create an ‘urban river’. Richard Watson, of Conygar, said: “The PBSA on The Island Quarter site forms an integral part of what we are trying to achieve with the development. In the wake of COVID-19, it has never been more important to encourage healthy, sustainable and resilient living, and this element of the scheme will help in creating a true community around the site. “The reimagined masterplan creates active, liveable and safe spaces that will connect the various elements of the scheme with each other and, more importantly, with the area’s existing vibrant communities.” Tom Exell, director of architecture at DAY Architectural, said: “This will be a unique PBSA offering in a highly competitive market, with a real focus on high quality design and student wellbeing across all aspects. We’re delighted to have achieved planning approval and excited to see the development move onto the next stage.” Work on the vast redevelopment is progressing at pace, with the first phase of the Canal Turn – at the opposite end of the site set to open to the public in early next summer. Once complete, Canal Turn will bring a new three-storey restaurant, bar and meeting and banqueting space to the city’s waterfront, as well as a canalside plaza and outdoor stage for entertainment. Watson added: “The Island Quarter is a massive opportunity for our Nottingham community – the city has an ambitious regeneration strategy and our site will bring 4,500 jobs to support that, as well as millions of pounds of inward investment into the city.” To help accelerate the development’s progress, The Island Quarter has been included in the city council’s Levelling Up Fund bid, which is designed support ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects that will boost local economies. He said: “While we already have investment in place to support the development of the various phases that make up the site, the Levelling Up Fund allows us to accelerate work on-site so that Nottingham can make the most of the economic benefits of The Island Quarter as quickly as possible.” To hear more about the wider plans for the site, visit The Island Quarter YouTube channel for an in-depth look at placemaking and masterplanning with David Leonard of Leonard Design Architects and David West of Studio Egret West: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UEOSgq1eXA To find out more about The Island Quarter, please visit: www.theislandquarter.com/
Leading construction and fit out company, Gilbert-Ash has moved on site to commence work at a new 500-bedroom student hotel in the heart of Glasgow. The £50 million design and build contract will see the development of The Student Hotel (TSH) as part of a £300 million masterplan in the Merchant City area. TSH currently owns and operates 15 hotels across Europe in cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Florence, Bologna, Vienna, with a further dozen sites under development. The Glasgow TSH development is their first in the UK and marks Gilbert-Ash’s first project in Scotland for a decade. Works include hotel accommodation, co‐living and co‐working spaces, a bar and restaurant, conference rooms and fitness centre. External works comprise landscaped open spaces and accessible walkways with a new public square at its heart. TSH states that its mission is to “create boundary-blurring spaces where students, travellers, mobile professionals, creative nomads and enterprising minds can connect and thrive in smart design co-living and co-working spaces”. The Student Hotel construction signals the first phase of Candleriggs Square which will eventually see the development of a mixed-use scheme combining homes, offices, hotel, restaurants and local amenities along with landscaped open spaces and walkways and a public square. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson said the Glasgow project, which is earmarked for completion in July 2023, is a welcome return to Scotland for the award-winning company. “We’re delighted to be working once again in Scotland and proud to be delivering the first TSH development in the UK. We have a reputation for constructing landmark buildings and this innovative development in the centre of Glasgow has the ability to re-write the handbook on how student accommodation is constructed. Gilbert-Ash has extensive experience of working in both the hotel and student accommodation sectors, so this project really excites us,” said Ray. “In Belfast we have just completed the landmark Merchant Square development for PwC. The Grade A office space delivers a hybrid and flexible working environment where remote and office working unites. TSH offers a similar hybrid approach to hospitality. This development allows for great flexibility and Gilbert-Ash has the experience and expertise to bring these plans to life.” Gilbert-Ash attributes its continued success to its ‘As One’ approach and its unique working culture and family environment as an employee-owned company. It continues to complete a broad portfolio of successful construction projects across sectors including arts and culture, workplace, hotels and leisure, education, science and technology, retail, residential and student accommodation.
The decision means Godwin Developments has secured approval for 1000+ units this week following the approval of The Meridian in Sheffield. PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting office into a 692-bed student living development took a step forward today (Wednesday, 18th August) after members of the Nottingham City Council planning committee resolved to grant planning permission for Godwin Development’s proposals for the Bendigo Building. The decision was made subject to clarification of further design details. The scheme will see the currently disused property – which has been vacant for nearly 20 years – demolished and replaced with purpose build student accommodation (PBSA), which will provide new high-quality, contemporary living spaces for students in the city. The development – which is situated less than half a mile from Nottingham Trent University – will consist of a mix of modern studio apartments, four, five and six-bedroom clusters and accessible studio rooms. The scheme will also incorporate a range of indoor amenities such as two receptions, a spacious residents lounge, gym, study and games rooms, as well as a fully landscaped courtyard garden with outdoor seating, recreational and outdoor exercise equipment, 6 car parking and 312 cycle storage spaces. Two commercial units, located on the ground floor, will also provide an additional amenity for residents and the neighbouring community. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have received the resolution to grant planning approval from Nottingham City Council for our proposals, which will transform this eye-sore of a building into a thriving student hub. “With unmet demand of over 7,000 student beds in the city and the number of undergraduates rising as both universities continue their expansion plans, there is a clear requirement for more dedicated student spaces where young people can live, study, and socialise together. Our plans will not only cater to this demand but also support the Council’s ambitions to keep the city centre vibrant, house students better, and protect further traditional family housing from being converted for student occupation.” “The Bendigo Building will also bring a substantial amount of investment, attracting £234 million of economic activity to Nottingham and the region in the form of construction, employment and discretional spend. Other community benefits will include a large contribution towards open spaces as well as employment and training, improvement of public realm and safety.” “We would like to thank Nottingham City Council’s planning team for their support of the scheme, as well as our partners – architects RG+P, planning consultants P&DG and engineering business HSP Consulting – for their work to-date.” The Bendigo Building is conveniently positioned within easy walking distance of Nottingham city centre, Sneinton Market, Nottingham Trent University and the main food and entertainment quarter, with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham train station also readily accessible via public transport. The scheme has been designed with sustainability in mind and contains features, such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) roof panels and an energy efficient building fabric. It promotes greener ways of travel in and around the city, supporting cleaner air and reducing traffic congestion in the area. Once underway the Bendigo Building will create around 300 jobs during the construction phase – and 40 full-time positions when fully operational. James Mulcare, Head of Residential Capital Markets at Godwin Developments, said: “In recent years, Nottingham has cemented itself into a major higher education destination. The city attracts nearly 80% of its full-time students from the UK, making it resilient to fluctuations in international student demand. “As vaccination rates across the country continue to rise and young people seek to return to face-to-face learning and socialising, the need for purpose-built student accommodation will continue to grow – and with it a strong interest from investors across the globe. “We are confident that the Bendigo Building with its prominent location and high amenities provision will be popular with young people and will deliver attractive long-term returns to investors seeking to capitalise on the strong local PBSA market.” For further information on Godwin Developments, visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/developments/.
Study Inn Group, a luxury hotel-style student accommodation owner, developer, and operator are set to convert Reynard House, a former office block in Leicester, into a 267-bed high quality purpose-built student accommodation centre. The £30million redevelopment will increase the overall square footage of the existing Reynard House by 50% with additional new build space, totalling 73,550 sq. ft. The brand-new 7-storey student accommodation scheme will provide a mixture of studios and en-suite serviced apartment rooms, all within a 3-minute walk from the De Montford University’s main campus. Construction is well underway, with opening scheduled for September 2022. Facilities will follow the same enhanced specification as Study Inn’s 2nd generation of properties, including 24×7 onsite management; room cleaning and linen services; and state-of-the-art communal facilities such as extensive study space; wellness spa; sauna; steam room; hot beds; gym; yoga studio; games room; lounge; big screen cinema room; and an atrium conservatory for additional natural light. Commenting on the new development, Jack Jefferson, acquisitions director at Study Inn, said: “We are very pleased to add another fantastic city to our fast-growing portfolio. As both a developer and an operator, it is testament to our confidence in the continuing purpose-built student accommodation letting ability in Leicester.” In addition to Leicester, Study Inn is currently building its latest properties in Exeter, opening in September 2021 and Leeds, opening in September 2022 to add to its operating properties in Bristol, Loughborough, and Nottingham. https://www.studyinn.com/
Developer Southern Grove Group today unveils a £55million mixed-use student accommodation scheme for London’s Hackney Wick that will help turn the area into one of the most vibrant off-campus communities in London. The Broadwood Piano Works will create over 200 bedrooms on Fish Island with co-working facilities, a gym and space for pop-ups and creative workshops. Southern Grove’s joint venture sister company, the PBSA specialist Future Generation, is already responsible for The Vogue, a 330-bed mixed-use student scheme which sits on the adjacent site. The Broadwood Piano Works will be built as a second phase and will complement The Vogue, creating a vibrant destination for students in a growing community within East London. The Vogue already has planning consent and is currently under construction. The Broadwood Piano Works will seal the area’s future as the youthful, cosmopolitan beating heart of Hackney Wick’s cultural scene, and will be just a short stroll from at least five world-famous institutions. The site, acquired this month, is less than five minutes’ walk from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP). Just the other side of the park is the University of East London (UEL) campus in Stratford, while Queen Mary University of London sits just to the south-west of Fish Island in Mile End. Even closer are Loughborough University London’s postgraduate campus and UCL’s East Campus, which are sited within the Olympic Park. That’s also where the London College of Fashion (University of the Arts London) will be moving. Its new campus, currently under development, will bring together its six existing sites in one place for the first time in its 120-year history. The Broadwood Piano Works has been designed by architects Henley Halebrown, who also designed The Vogue. It will incorporate 2,500 sqm of commercial space — meaning no loss of existing provision — and retain the heritage chimney and boiler house that formed part of the John Broadwood & Sons piano factory, which earlier occupied the site. Planning permission will be sought from the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). Development agent Tom Brain, of Hillstone Group, acted for Southern Grove in helping to obtain the site. Wider development is also being undertaken at scale locally. More than 1,800 new homes are planned for two new communities called East Wick and Sweetwater in the Olympic Park, alongside shops, schools and community facilities. The public realm around Hackney Wick station is also being regenerated, with the addition of nearly 200 new homes. Tom Slingsby, CEO of Southern Grove Group, commented: “Hackney Wick is one of the most rapidly regenerating areas of London, and The Vogue and The Broadwood Piano Works are very much going to be a part of that. “The first and second phases will come together to create one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse communities of students in the capital, a melting pot of different disciplines and interests. The two schemes will provide a mix of uses to an area that represents one of the most vibrant growth opportunities in London, and one which will continue to attract high levels of investment like our own. “We’ve enjoyed working closely with the LLDC. The phenomenal pace of the wider development that will take place in Hackney Wick over the next few years will also deliver residents and visitors fantastic opportunities. The whole area is being gradually transformed into one of the capital’s key destination districts through positive planning and superb architecture.”
Building will be 15 storeys high at its highest point and is designed to provide affordable student living within an environment to support health and well-being. GMI Construction, a leading main contractor to a growing portfolio of public and private clients throughout the UK has announced that it has been appointed as the main contractor to construct a new 604-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Leeds. The development situated on Carlton Hill in Leeds will see the demolition of a 20 year-old, 239 -bed student accommodation block to make space for the new development. The new building, which will be 15 storeys at the highest point, has been designed to provide affordable living, with a strong emphasis on an environment to support students’ mental health and well-being. It is planned for students to move into the new building during September 2023. The £40M project is the culmination of several years of planning and dialogue between Pickard Properties and Unipol Student Homes who will lease the building for exclusive use by students attending the University of Leeds. It will incorporate several fully landscaped three-storey “sky gardens”, allocated to clusters of apartments. The open-air theme also extends to ground floor level with its own courtyard, providing a combination of natural and interactive spaces for student studying and socialising. Commenting on the project Lee Powell, Divisional Managing Director of GMI, said: “This is a significant project win for GMI and we are looking forward to working with Pickard Properties, Fox Lloyd Jones and the rest of the team in changing the landscape of the Leeds City skyline. “The scheme enables GMI to enhance its successful track record of delivering student residential living and we are proud to be involved in a ground-breaking design that caters for students’ mental wellbeing.” Also talking about the project Miles Pickard Director of Pickard Properties said: “We recognise there has been a huge change to students’ needs, and therefore a considerable amount of thought has been given to the design, social circulation and interaction for the wellbeing of students. “We are really looking forward to developing Carlton Hill for the students of Leeds to enjoy this modern, cutting-edge addition to the accommodation available to them in the city. Martin Blakey of Unipol added: “We are looking forward to 2023 when we will take delivery of what will be an exciting new living environment, available at an affordable rent providing value for money, for students of the university. “Everyone involved in this development has worked hard to ensure this building will be a home from home and a great place to live.”
UK RESIDENTIAL and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has submitted proposals for a 692-unit purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Nottingham city centre, on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The plans, lodged with Nottingham City Council at the end of last week, propose the demolition of the current disused and significantly degraded building, which has been vacant for nearly 20 years, and the construction of a new contemporary scheme, varying from 12 to 15 storeys in height Situated on the corner of Bath Street and Cowan Street, the development – named the Bendigo Building – is adjacent to St. Mary’s Rest Gardens and will consist of a mix of modern studio apartments, four, five and six-bedroom clusters and disabled studio rooms. The scheme will also incorporate a range of indoor amenities such as a spacious residents lounge and reception area, gym, study and games rooms, as well as fully landscaped courtyard garden with outdoor seating, recreational and outdoor exercise equipment, basement parking for 55 vehicles and 312 cycle storage spaces. Two commercial units, located on the ground floor have also been proposed as an additional amenity for residents and the neighbouring community. The development is conveniently positioned within easy walking distance of Nottingham city centre, Nottingham Trent University, Sneinton Market and the main food and entertainment quarter, with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham train station also readily accessible via public transport. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in our proposals for the re-development of this significant site in Nottingham. The city is a key UK hub for higher education, with an ever-growing student population. As a business with a local presence, we recognise the substantial contribution that young people make to its potential. They bring energy and vibrancy to the area, draw in private investment, boost local businesses through discretional spend, support the day and night-time economy, and add to the ongoing city-wide regeneration initiatives. “With the number of full-time students expected to increase by approximately 28% in the next few years, there is a clear requirement for more dedicated student spaces where young people can live, study, and play together. The Bendigo Building will cater to these needs while also freeing up traditional housing stock, allowing homes to return to their intended family use – responding to the aspirations of many local residents. “We would like to thank Nottingham City Council’s planning team for their support and feedback with the scheme to date as well as the local community for engaging with us constructively during the public consultation stages. We’ve also worked closely with our partners – architects RG&P, engineers HSP Consulting and planning experts PD&G – who helped us to shape the proposals submitted last week.” The well-considered scheme also contains sustainability features, such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) roof panels and electric vehicle charging points. It endorses green methods of travel in and around the city by encouraging cycling, walking and use of nearby public transport – all of which promote the health and well-being of students and cleaner air in central Nottingham. James Mulcare, head of residential capital markets at Godwin Developments, said: “Nottingham is one of the UK’s higher education hotspots with its leading universities attracting a growing number of students year-on-year. In the last few years, the full-time student population in the city has surpassed 63,000 and is growing faster than any other UK university destination. At the same time, independent evidence indicates that there are at least 25,000 young people who are unable to access PBSA – highlighting the robust demand for student living in the city and the clear requirement for dedicated schemes like the Bendigo Building.” Stephen Pratt, co-founder and board director at Godwin Developments, added: “More and more domestic and international students come to the city of Nottingham, seeking outstanding education and good quality accessible student living. We are confident that the Bendigo Building with its prominent location and high amenities provision will be popular with young people and will deliver attractive long-term returns to investors seeking to capitalise on the strong local PBSA market.” Once underway the Bendigo Building will create around 300 jobs during the construction phase – and 40 full-time positions when fully operational. Godwin Developments is currently progressing a number of other residential schemes across the country, including the recently announced 23-storey development in Sheffield city centre, ‘The Meridian’, which will see the creation of a 336-apartment BTR scheme, and the recently submitted planning application for a 116-unit BTR urban village scheme in Ely. The developer is also working on projects such as a suburban BTR scheme in Doncaster which will create 60 BTR homes, as well as two residential schemes in Nottingham which will provide 102 family homes. For further information on Godwin Developments, visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/developments/.
Following the recent planning approval of a new mixed-use student accommodation development in central Brighton, developer McLaren Property reveals what the local community can expect from the scheme. Located on London Road, within Brighton’s regeneration area, the development will see an outdated building being replaced with new sustainable retail units and student apartments. McLaren Property is working alongside Morgan Carn Architects and engineering consultancy Howard Ward Associates (HWA) to deliver the five-storey build, which will feature 156 student bedrooms with a reception area and communal interior and exterior spaces. New retail units will make up the ground floor of the development, presenting an entirely refreshed shop frontage which holds a prominent position among London Road’s high street stores. Part of the New England Quarter and London Road Development Area, where regeneration is actively encouraged by Brighton & Hove City Council, the new scheme will see the former Marks and Spencer site completely transformed – complete with a 24/7 security presence to manage the building. As part of the environmentally friendly design, the building will achieve a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of ‘Excellent’ and will feature solar panels on a green roof. Further sustainable features include air source heat pumps as its primary heat source and planted outdoor spaces – including trees – which will be maintained using recycled rainwater. The development will also be car-free and have cycle route access and storage spaces. The demand for quality, affordable student accommodation in Brighton continues to be a pertinent issue, with only 25% of the city’s student community living in purpose-built student housing. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, students have a preference towards living in dedicated accommodation with larger living spaces, premium Wi-Fi, 24-hour security and communal areas, rather than living in HMOs (housing of multiple occupancy), McLaren Property says. The new purpose-built London Road development could also free up some of the many former family homes that have been converted into HMOs to house students, potentially allowing local residents to stay in Brighton and attracting new house hunters to the area. Midlands-based HWA has been appointed to provide structural engineering to the project, with construction due to begin in Mid 2022. Dan Bailey, director at HWA, said: “We are really pleased to be working with McLaren on the London Road development following planning approval – transforming what is currently an inefficient and underutilised site into much-needed student accommodation and fresh new retail units. “The site presents a great opportunity to enhance the local area and contribute dramatically to the ongoing regeneration efforts on both sides of the site. We have been involved with the planning and design for this build since the beginning, working with McLaren Property, to provide our civil and structural engineering expertise to this scheme through the pre purchase and pre planning project stages.” David Atherton, development director at McLaren Property, said: “We are very excited about the potential for this development – to contribute positively towards the regeneration of this important area within the city. “Removal of the existing building means Providence Place Square can finally become a welcoming and successful inner city green space to be used by local residents. Students contribute vitally to the local economy and by occupying purpose-built student accommodation rather than HMOs, there is an opportunity to free up those local houses to local families. “High quality design is at the heart of every project that we undertake and McLaren Property, together with our consultant team, is committed to delivering buildings that help drive positive change.” Brighton’s student population sits at almost 34,000, with the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex proving to be popular choices for studying. The new city centre London Road development lies just one mile away from the University of Brighton’s main city campus.
