Award-winning student Madeleine Clarke is part of a rising number of women pursuing a construction career at Coventry University and is hoping her achievement will inspire more young girls to consider a career in the industry. Third year Architectural Technology BSc student Madeleine won the West Midlands’ crown at The Association
HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on SCAPE’s new student accommodation scheme in Leeds which will top 100m high and provide 693 bedrooms for local students. The Merrion Street development will be Scape’s first student accommodation scheme in Leeds and HG Construction’s first development in the city.
Much needed new accommodation for Manchester’s growing student community developed by Alumno has reached the landmark topping out stage on schedule with the structure of the building now complete. Built on a site south of the city centre previously occupied by the disused Church Inn public house and close to
A public consultation has been launched asking for views on a new gateway residential development planned for Wilford Road, within Nottingham City Centre ‘Southside’. Jensco (Wilford Road) Limited, part of the Jensco Group, is proposing to build a development of purpose-built student accommodation on a cleared and underutilised site on
Study Inn Group, the high-quality luxury student accommodation owner, developer, and operator is set to deliver a 270-bed purpose-built Study Inn in Nottingham, its second property in the city. Triumph House is conveniently located adjacent to the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee campus. The £35million brand-new scheme will offer a mixture
A landmark stage was reached recently in the construction of student accommodation on Alscot Road in Bermondsey, celebrated in style by a topping out ceremony attended by developer Alumno, a range of stakeholders and the core design team. These included Greenaway Architects, project funder Barings and the headteacher of local
Farrans Construction has completed and handed over a purpose-built, 357 bed, nine-storey student accommodation project for F3 Group in Bristol city centre. The accommodation block between St Thomas’ Street and Mitchell Court has a total floor space of 8,575 sqm and amenities include a gym, study space, bike parking, cinema
WORK has officially started on a six-storey high-quality student accommodation facility, in the heart of Leicester’s city centre. The Marble Street development, which was granted planning permission in February, will feature 61 rooms – a mix of shared and studio rooms – as well as a new student social hub,
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
Award-winning student Madeleine Clarke is part of a rising number of women pursuing a construction career at Coventry University and is hoping her achievement will inspire more young girls to consider a career in the industry. Third year Architectural Technology BSc student Madeleine won the West Midlands’ crown at The Association of Women in Property 2021 Student of the Year Awards, an event that aims to increase and support the 15% of women who make up the construction and property workforce. Coventry University is helping to address that figure, with women making up a quarter of the students studying built environment courses at the university. Madeleine, who was 23 when she decided to pursue her dream, is keen to increase exposure of careers in construction to young women. “The only careers that were pitched to me at school were nursing or teaching. I was only exposed to a career in architecture when I completed a career quiz online. When I go to these Women in Property events it is great because the room is filled with women in the industry.” “I just want to encourage more women and girls to look into a career in property or construction because exposure is important, and I want to show people through this award that you can change your path and do something different,” she said. Sabine Coady Schäbitz, Curriculum Lead for Built Environment at Coventry University, says the university wants to drive change in the industry. “We are proud of Madeline and are actively encouraging women to enrol on our professional courses in the Built Environment. In the last five years the percentage of women studying with us rose from 17.3% to 26.4%. We are working closely with industry and the professional bodies to further increase equality, diversity and inclusion in the creation and management of the Built Environment,” Sabine commented. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News
HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on SCAPE’s new student accommodation scheme in Leeds which will top 100m high and provide 693 bedrooms for local students. The Merrion Street development will be Scape’s first student accommodation scheme in Leeds and HG Construction’s first development in the city. The scheme, which will be built on the site of the former Santander building, comprises purpose-built student accommodation including shared amenity spaces built across two blocks, with two retail units on the ground floors. The tallest of the two blocks will be 32 storeys, making it HG Construction’s tallest development to date and amongst the tallest buildings in Leeds. The second block will be 11 storeys high. The new scheme is set to make an impressive addition to the Leeds skyline, with striking unitized glass facades on the high-rise building. Shared facilities will include a cinema, communal kitchens, gym, study and breakout spaces, a fourth-floor terrace with outside space, and cycle storage at ground level. SCAPE is one of the UK’s leading student accommodation providers, focusing on the quality of the student experience and their personal well-being. The Leeds scheme will be the 10th scheme that HG Construction has delivered for SCAPE. The company is currently building a 774-bed student accommodation led scheme for SCAPE in Canada Street, London and has recently finished a student accommodation and co-living scheme with 500 beds in Guilford. Adam Quinn, Managing Director, HG Construction said: “We are delighted to be partnering with SCAPE to deliver this iconic new student accommodation scheme in Leeds. SCAPE has an excellent reputation for developing high quality, innovative student accommodation schemes which provide an exceptional living experience for students across the UK. We are proud to be involved in this significant new development in Leeds, our first project in the city, and we look forward to working with SCAPE and the wider team to bring this scheme to life.” Adam Brockley, Global CDO, SCAPE said: “We look forward to continuing our partnership with HG Construction to bring to life our vision for a new student accommodation scheme at this landmark site in Leeds. HG Construction has earned an impeccable reputation for its forward-thinking design and innovative developments that go above and beyond anybody’s expectations. We are proud to be bringing our high-quality accommodation to a city so well-known for its vibrant student life as we continue with our ambitious plans to develop the global Scape offering.”
Much needed new accommodation for Manchester’s growing student community developed by Alumno has reached the landmark topping out stage on schedule with the structure of the building now complete. Built on a site south of the city centre previously occupied by the disused Church Inn public house and close to major arterial road The Mancunian Way, the nine-storey building will consist of 62 studio apartments, along with a communal area, rooftop terrace, office and storage space for 16 bikes. Landscaping will also be carried out to highlight the history of the site, with the reclaimed facade bricks being used to create a bespoke seating area outside the development. The location is close to a range of facilities and departments of Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester School of Art, Manchester Business School and the University of Manchester. Built by the GMI Construction Group, the development supports two key ambitions of Manchester City Council. First, to prioritise purpose-built student accommodation to protect family homes from conversion to multiple occupation properties. Second, to achieve a zero-carbon target for Manchester by establishing student accommodation close to educational establishments, reducing the need for travel and minimising emissions. Scheduled for completion for the start of the 2022 academic year, the development has been designed by Carson & Partners to enhance and complement the local area. It will also directly benefit the adjacent community, with Alumno partnering charity One Manchester to secure a £50,000 fund for local community projects. “We are also working to provide pioneering navigation aids using GPS wayfinding technology to help visually impaired students, and will install CCTV surveillance equipment to ensure the site is safe and secure, and deter anti-social behaviour,” explained Alumno Managing Director David Campbell. “I’m delighted we have reached this landmark stage on schedule, and as usual with our student residences, look forward to commissioning new public art to further enhance the public space around the building.” Commenting on the development, Iain Carson from Carson & Partners said: “It’s exciting to see another of our projects with Alumno that will rejuvenate and enhance the local area reach the topping out stage.” Marc Banks of GMI added: “Getting to this stage is a real team effort, and we’re all looking forward to going full steam ahead to ensure students can benefit from the building in 2022.”
A public consultation has been launched asking for views on a new gateway residential development planned for Wilford Road, within Nottingham City Centre ‘Southside’. Jensco (Wilford Road) Limited, part of the Jensco Group, is proposing to build a development of purpose-built student accommodation on a cleared and underutilised site on the corner of Wilford Road and Traffic Street. The development of the site will further contribute towards the regeneration of the Southside, connecting the City Centre with the Meadows. The development, designed by Nottingham based architects CPMG, would provide a mix of studio apartments and clustered bedrooms around a shared kitchen and lounge, for up to 356 students. Designed as two blocks, both using brick palettes, the style is indicative of Nottingham’s industrial past, contributing towards reinstating Traffic Street’s historic frontage whilst providing a landmark to the Southside regeneration area. Both Traffic Street and Wilford Road will benefit from attractive frontages and a vastly improved, upgraded public realm. A public arrival plaza will link to a community café, creating a vibrant and safe space, as well as connectivity between a central courtyard fronting Traffic Street. The development will vary in height from six storeys up to twenty storeys. The elegant, taller elements will be set back from the Traffic Street and Wilford Road frontages, helping the buildings to blend with their surroundings. Sustainability is at the core of the scheme, contributing towards Nottingham’s aspiration to become carbon neutral by 2028, through a careful choice of materials and the inclusion of modern highly sustainable features. The development is designed to enhance and support wildlife and ecology, helping to improve CO2 balance with the planting of wildlife-friendly native species and the re-introduction of nature to the built environment. This will include bird boxes, as well as planting beds for on-site food growing. The location has a fascinating, varied history. It was once an area used for growing crocuses to harvest saffron, with which the developer hopes to re-establish this connection by planting a number of native crocus species. The unattractive and overgrown brownfield site has remained vacant for over fourteen years. Several new developments along Traffic Street, including the soon to be completed Ten Traffic Street also by Jensco, are a sign of Nottingham’s growing pace of regeneration, providing jobs and high-quality student accommodation. The ‘Southern Gateway’ is quickly becoming an established area within the City Centre that benefits from excellent transport links — with the train station, tram and City Link bus service all easily accessible on foot. Walking and cycle routes are also a key benefit. Three Wilford Road is a stone’s throw from the newly proposed University of Nottingham Campus at Castle Meadow and will help to address the evidential need by Nottingham City Council to provide more high-quality student accommodation in the right locations, which in turn helps to redress the balance of houses in multiple occupation (HMO’s) being occupied by students. Nigel Bobroff, Director at Jensco Group, commented: “Jensco Group is passionate about creating great places to live in Nottingham and has a strong track record for bringing forward attractive, sustainable developments on strategic sites in the East Midlands, including our latest development at Ten Traffic Street, to be completed during 2022.” “Three Wilford Road will be a high-quality and sensitively designed, car-free, purpose-built student housing development in the heart of Nottingham Southside, with 24-hour a day on-site management, vastly improved public realm and fantastic transport links to both universities.” “Nottingham is seeing continued growth at both universities and with 64,000 students, there remains about 30,000 students unable to access purpose-built accommodation, with close to 20,000 students living in houses that could provide homes for local families”. “As with our Traffic Street development, Jensco will continue to work with local firms, the local supply chain and local labour to deliver the development, bringing significant economic benefits to Nottingham both during and after construction”. The public consultation is online. More details of the scheme and images can be viewed at: http://www.planningconsultationonline.co.uk/three-wilford-road
Study Inn Group, the high-quality luxury student accommodation owner, developer, and operator is set to deliver a 270-bed purpose-built Study Inn in Nottingham, its second property in the city. Triumph House is conveniently located adjacent to the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee campus. The £35million brand-new scheme will offer a mixture of luxurious studios and en-suite serviced apartment rooms. Construction of the 5-storey ground up new build is in progress with opening scheduled for the next academic year. Facilities will follow the same enhanced and unparalleled specification as Study Inn’s 2nd generation of properties, including 24×7 onsite management, room cleaning and linen services, superfast Wi-Fi, and state-of-the-art communal facilities such as study space, wellness spa, sauna, steam room, hot beds, gym, yoga studio, games room, lounge, big screen cinema room, bicycle parking, and include private landscaped gardens. Commenting on the new development, Jack Jefferson, acquisitions director at Study Inn Group, said: Having opened 288 rooms in Talbot St, adjacent to Nottingham Trent University in 2020, this new development offers the opportunity to open a similar number of rooms adjacent to the University of Nottingham and so we are very pleased with the acquisition and the potential to continue to work with both universities in these excellent locations. This will be the seventh property in our second portfolio of luxury Study Inns. We had the ability and resources to close the acquisition quickly and have appetite for further acquisitions in good locations in UK cities.” Following the opening of Walnut Gardens in Exeter in September 2021, Study Inn is now in construction phase in Leicester, Leeds and Nottingham, which will see the Group’s 2nd Portfolio grow to circa 1,800 rooms. All Study Inn’s operating properties across Bristol, Loughborough, Nottingham, and Exeter are trading at 100% occupancy with strong rental growth and waiting lists.
A landmark stage was reached recently in the construction of student accommodation on Alscot Road in Bermondsey, celebrated in style by a topping out ceremony attended by developer Alumno, a range of stakeholders and the core design team. These included Greenaway Architects, project funder Barings and the headteacher of local Kintore Way Nursery School and Children’s Centre, for which Alumno is aiming to help refurbish the external playground and develop an archive project to mark its long and fascinating history dating back to before the Second World War. Alumno’s fourth development in Southwark, Bermondsey, will deliver fully integrated student facilities for 143 students, including high-quality rooms with shared amenities, such as a basement cinema lounge, study room and community area. It will follow the aims of Alumno’s previous projects in delivering key local community benefits. Speaking at the topping out event, Alumno Managing Director David Campbell said: “We are delighted to have reached this landmark stage on schedule, and I’d like to thank everyone who has worked so hard in the current difficult circumstances, in particular Greenaway Architects for the building’s stunning design, praised by Southwark Council, our construction partners HG Construction, and funders Barings. “The development will not only provide much needed high-quality accommodation for the area’s student population but will also contribute to the vibrancy of this diverse neighbourhood and make a valuable contribution to the local community in line with our ethos of always giving something back.” Commenting on the project, which is due for completion for the start of the 2022 academic year, HG Construction Managing Director Conor Rice said: “It’s always a special feeling when we reach this stage, and this is all the more satisfying during these tough times, and also due to the benefits we know this development will bring to Bermondsey as a whole.” Rory Allan, Managing Director of Real Estate Fund Management at Barings, added: “We are pleased to celebrate this important milestone in the development of what will be a high-quality student accommodation. Barings has a strong conviction in the structural drivers behind investing in student housing in major undersupplied university markets and is committed to delivering projects that positively impact local environments and communities.”
Farrans Construction has completed and handed over a purpose-built, 357 bed, nine-storey student accommodation project for F3 Group in Bristol city centre. The accommodation block between St Thomas’ Street and Mitchell Court has a total floor space of 8,575 sqm and amenities include a gym, study space, bike parking, cinema room and communal lounge. The property is connected to the Bristol City’s District Heat Network as part of the overall sustainability strategy, achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating. The building, which consists of 322 en-suite cluster rooms and 35 studios, was designed by architects GSS. Farrans Construction, a CRH company, is a leading building and civil engineering contractor with over 75 years’ experience of delivering world-class projects across the UK and Ireland. The company, which employs more than 500 people, has offices in London, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Belfast with further site offices connecting its regional network. “The successful completion of our Bristol St Thomas Street project has been an important milestone for Farrans as it marks another fantastic addition to our student accommodation portfolio. We have achieved high quality throughout the building, enabling the students to move into one of the most modern and pristine accommodation facilities in the city. This building has sought to encourage time to be spent in social spaces, with a gym, cinema room, lounge and courtyard all designed to allow students to maximise and enjoy their time at university. We are currently onsite on a number of similar exciting projects across the UK and Ireland, including Library Street in Belfast and Live Oasis: Strato in Leeds,” said Cathal Montague, regional director for Farrans Construction. “We deliver signature and often complex buildings which have an important role in our everyday lives, while also adding value to the communities that we work in through apprenticeships and training opportunities. During our time onsite we were involved in community initiatives including donating materials to support the build of a local garden. We also used our expertise to assist local authorities during a flooding incident near the site, supporting Avon Fire Rescue with a water diversion plan and using site equipment to speed up the rescue mission.”
WORK has officially started on a six-storey high-quality student accommodation facility, in the heart of Leicester’s city centre. The Marble Street development, which was granted planning permission in February, will feature 61 rooms – a mix of shared and studio rooms – as well as a new student social hub, which will create a vibrant front to the city. Designed by architecture firm CPMG Architects, and delivered by property developers Tang Developments and DAKO Construction, the new accommodation will sit next to the existing eight-storey iQ student block and will reflect the character and appearance of its surroundings with a bespoke and contemporary structure. Nick Gregory, director at CPMG Architects, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Tang Developments and DAKO to deliver and bring a much-needed scheme to the city of Leicester. “We’ve created a design that is both unique but also reflects the existing character of the wider environment and the street’s aesthetics. The scheme is located on previously developed land, which will help reduce the pressure of greenfield land for development and encourage residents to walk and cycle.” The building’s new social area will open directly onto Marble Street, with three studio rooms provided behind these – each with a double bed, private bathroom, kitchenette, and seating area, as well as individual gardens with views across the city. Twelve rooms will sit on the first, second, third and fourth floors, with communal kitchens, large social lounge areas – giving students a place to cook, relax and socialise. Kane Tang, managing director at Tang Developments, said: “As an established property developer in the East Midlands, we’re pleased to be part of this project to deliver 61 new student homes. The professional team at CPMG has submitted an outstanding design of the building, which will provide a mixture of rooms to bring a range of students to the area.” The project team also includes project manager Pulse, M+E consultant CPW and structural and civil engineer Dice. For more information about CPMG Architects, please visit: www.cpmg-architects.com/
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.