Purpose-built student accommodation developer Fusion Group has awarded two major construction contracts worth a combined £176m to CField Construction, reinforcing continued investment in the UK’s growing student housing sector. The projects, located in London and Glasgow, will deliver a total of 1,269 student bedrooms alongside affordable housing and significant public realm improvements, with both developments scheduled to welcome students for the 2028 academic year. The largest of the two schemes is a £97m mixed-use development in Wood Green, north London. The project will provide 636 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) beds alongside 79 affordable homes, creating a vibrant mixed-use community supported by new public spaces and enhanced public realm. Meanwhile, in Glasgow, CField has commenced construction of a £79m development on Sauchiehall Street that will deliver a further 633 student bedrooms. The project also incorporates the sensitive restoration of a 1930s Art Deco façade and the reinstatement of the historic Wellington Arcade, helping to preserve an important piece of the city’s architectural heritage while supporting the wider regeneration of the surrounding area. Together, the two developments demonstrate the continued strength of the UK PBSA market, where demand for high-quality student accommodation remains robust across major university cities. Developers are increasingly seeking to deliver schemes that combine modern student living with placemaking, heritage restoration and wider community benefits. The appointments further strengthen the long-standing relationship between Fusion Group and CField Construction, with both businesses continuing to expand their presence within the living sector. Originally established in County Cork, CField has been operating successfully across the UK for approximately 15 years, building a strong reputation for delivering complex residential, education and mixed-use developments. Gavin O’Flaherty, Managing Director of CField Construction, described the twin contract awards as an important milestone for the business and a reflection of the company’s proven expertise within the living sector. André Ferdinand, Projects Director at Fusion Group, said both the Wood Green and Sauchiehall Street developments are central to the company’s long-term growth strategy. He added that CField’s delivery capability and collaborative approach will play a key role in ensuring both schemes are completed in time for the 2028 student intake. As demand for purpose-built student accommodation continues to outstrip supply in many university cities, developments of this scale are expected to remain a significant driver of investment across the UK’s residential and regeneration sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Landmark Properties has secured approval for revised plans to transform Durham’s Prince Bishops Place into a major mixed-use destination centred around a significant new purpose-built student accommodation development. The scheme represents a major milestone in the long-awaited regeneration of the city centre shopping complex and will see the introduction of 504 student bedrooms alongside enhanced retail, leisure and public spaces. The approval follows amendments to an earlier consented scheme, replacing a proposed hotel with additional student accommodation to better reflect current market demand. Located in the heart of Durham, Prince Bishops Place has faced increasing challenges in recent years as retail habits have evolved and footfall patterns have changed. The redevelopment aims to reposition the site as a vibrant mixed-use destination that combines modern student living with improved commercial opportunities and public realm enhancements. The project is being brought forward through a partnership between Landmark Properties, Citrus Group and Galliard Homes. Landmark, one of the largest student housing developers and operators in the United States, exchanged contracts on the site earlier this year as part of its growing UK expansion strategy. The company currently manages more than 74,000 student beds globally and has identified Durham as a key market where demand for high-quality accommodation continues to outstrip supply. Beyond the student accommodation element, the development will deliver upgraded retail and leisure units, improved pedestrian routes through the site and a new public square overlooking the River Wear. New connections will also open up views towards Durham’s historic cathedral and castle, enhancing the city centre environment and strengthening links across the area. The existing multi-storey car park will be retained as part of the plans. Developers believe the project will play an important role in revitalising Durham’s city centre economy, creating a more diverse and sustainable destination that supports local businesses, attracts investment and meets the growing needs of the city’s student population. With approval now secured, the scheme moves a significant step closer to delivery and marks another major investment in Durham’s ongoing urban regeneration programme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Plans have been submitted for a major new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Manchester that would deliver more than 1,000 student beds and create a striking new gateway to one of the UK’s most ambitious innovation districts. RG Real Estate has lodged proposals to redevelop the existing Charles Street Car Park site with a large-scale student living scheme featuring a landmark 38-storey tower. The project forms part of the wider regeneration of the former UMIST campus, which is being transformed into the £1.7bn Sister innovation district by Bruntwood SciTech and The University of Manchester. The proposed development would provide 1,041 student bedrooms across a combination of studios and cluster apartments, helping to meet growing demand for high-quality student accommodation in the city. Designed by Hodder + Partners, the scheme would comprise buildings of eight, 10 and 38 storeys located on the corner of Charles Street and Sackville Street, adjacent to the railway viaduct within what is known as Plot H of the Sister masterplan. The plans follow an extensive public consultation process undertaken last year and have been shaped by a multidisciplinary project team that includes Buro Happold, Deloitte, Layer Studio, Roscoe, Tyler Grange and Civic Heritage, among others. In addition to delivering modern student accommodation, the proposals include more than an acre of new public realm, improved pedestrian connections and active ground-floor uses designed to enhance the surrounding neighbourhood and support the wider regeneration vision. RG Real Estate Development Director Darren Simmons said the scheme would transform an underutilised site into a vibrant new destination, while helping to reactivate Altrincham Street and strengthen connections across the evolving innovation district. The development is strategically positioned close to major transport links and within easy reach of Manchester’s universities, making it well suited to support the city’s growing student population. The proposals also sit alongside a number of other significant residential developments planned for the area, underlining Manchester’s continued emergence as one of the UK’s most active student accommodation and urban regeneration markets. If approved, the scheme will become another major addition to the city’s expanding skyline and a key component of the wider transformation of the former UMIST campus into a world-class hub for science, technology and innovation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Arc & Co. has successfully structured a debt and equity facility for a landmark 135-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Bristol. The complex transaction brings together Downing LLP as senior debt provider and Hame Capital as equity partner in a strategic joint venture with the sponsor Colico Living. The finalised financing package includes a circa £26 million senior development facility from Downing alongside a preferred equity investment from Hame Capital. Structured at approximately 68% LTGDV and 77% LTC, the facility is designed to support the full delivery of the scheme through to completion and stabilisation. This project marks a major achievement for Arc & Co., representing the culmination of more than a year of dedicated advisory work led by Senior Broker Corey Dennis. To bring this scheme to fruition, the team navigated a particularly selective capital markets environment and overcame a series of significant hurdles. This intensive process included managing intricate valuation challenges and facilitating a total redraft of the planning application to address amenity space requirements before successfully securing approval. This case represents a significant period of intensive advisory work and highlights the value of deep industry relationships when a borrower’s capital is heavily concentrated in the planning phase. Led by Senior Broker Corey Dennis, the team navigated a selective market to engineer a 100% funding solution via a £26m senior facility and preferred equity. Demonstrating a holistic commitment to client comfort that went well beyond the standard remit, the team aligned these terms with the 43-month build plan. In doing so, Arc & Co. solved a major developer pain point and provided the sponsor with essential long-term security. Corey Dennis, Senior Broker at Arc & Co., commented: “This was a complex, multifaceted transaction given the scale of the project and the extensive planning process. We carefully structured the funding package to ensure the scheme was fully capitalised while supporting the sponsor’s overall strategy. It was about finding that specific alignment between Downing and Hame Capital that truly recognised the project’s long-term value.” “We are seeing a market shift where developers are moving towards asset stabilisation over disposals, due to the slower sales market, which naturally impacts liquidity. In this environment, success depends on having a partner who understands the nuances of the entire capital stack and which senior and equity partners to approach. That depth of specialist knowledge played an important role in delivering the transaction.” Will Powell, Investment Director at Downing, commented: “We were delighted to close this significant funding package for an experienced and capable sponsor delivering a well-designed student scheme in central Bristol. The financing came with a number of complexities concurrent with this type of deal, and we are looking forward to seeing the project progress over the coming months. A big thanks to all involved.” The development is ideally positioned to serve Bristol’s two leading universities and is now in a position to progress through Gateway 2, with construction slated to begin in early 2027. Key contributions to the transaction included Scott Harvey at Hame Capital and Will Powell at Downing LLP. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

University of Bristol has named UPP as preferred bidder to deliver a significant new purpose built student accommodation scheme at Temple Island, forming a key part of its expanding Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. The development will comprise three buildings providing 890 student bedrooms, creating one of the principal accommodation hubs for the University within the Temple Quarter area. The scheme is expected to primarily serve postgraduate students, supporting the University’s growing academic and research community in central Bristol. UPP will work in partnership with Watkin Jones as delivery partner, with Cushman & Wakefield advising the University on the procurement process. Located within the wider Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, which is set to open in 2026, the accommodation forms part of a broader vision to create a leading innovation district. The campus will deliver advanced teaching facilities, research laboratories and collaborative workspace for students, staff and enterprise partners, reinforcing Bristol’s position as a key knowledge and innovation hub. Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the PBSA scheme will incorporate over 1,100 sq m of amenity space, including flexible study areas and social environments aimed at enhancing the overall student experience. The focus on high quality shared spaces reflects the evolving expectations of modern student living, particularly within postgraduate markets. Sustainability is a core element of the development, with the scheme targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating and an EPC A rating. These ambitions align with both the University’s and UPP’s commitment to delivering energy efficient, future ready buildings that support long term operational performance and reduced environmental impact. The appointment marks a further milestone in the delivery of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, with the PBSA scheme set to play a central role in supporting the University’s continued growth and strengthening the integration of education, research and urban development in the city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

McLaren Construction Midlands and North has made significant progress at the £160m Upper Brook Street student accommodation development in Manchester. Since McLaren’s appointment late last year, work has advanced with both tower cranes now fully operational and concrete cores for both buildings reaching full height. The 23-storey UBS tower has progressed to level five floor slabs, and the nine-storey K block has reached level four. The project team has also completed the installation of the attenuation tank and established exemplary site accommodation nearby. Current works are focused on progressing the concrete frame with floor slab construction ongoing across both buildings, and this phase will continue over the coming months with façade installation expected to commence in the summer. Modern methods of construction remain central to the scheme, and the project incorporates a full concrete frame and fully unitised prefabricated façade panels. The development is targeting high sustainability standards, including BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings, alongside a broader commitment to reducing environmental impact through efficient construction practices. The project has set social value deliverables including creating local jobs, dedicating time supporting unemployed people back into work, improving local skills including by hosting site visits, creating apprenticeships and supporting young people into work, 20% of construction value to be spent locally, and supporting local community projects to help increase green space and biodiversity. The team has started to develop this by working closely with local organisations, including initiatives in partnership with the Salvation Army, to provide work experience opportunities. Engagement with community groups is also ongoing, with discussions underway to support a local Scout group and a proposed greenhouse project linked to a nearby residents’ initiative at Brunswick allotments. Upper Brook Street will deliver 737 student beds across two buildings of 9 and 23 storeys, alongside a range of shared amenities including study areas, fitness facilities and social spaces.  Once complete, the development will provide new public and community-focused facilities, contributing to the wider Oxford Road Corridor. Luke Arnold, Regional Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “Progress on Upper Brook Street has been excellent, with the team achieving key structural milestones in a short period of time. Reaching full height on both concrete cores is an achievement and is testament to the collaboration and expertise across the team. As we move forward, we remain focused on maintaining this momentum while continuing to deliver meaningful social value within the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals