A major new student accommodation development has been approved in Coventry, marking a significant step forward for the city’s student housing landscape. Birmingham-based developer and investor, Sama Investment Group, has secured planning permission for a 130-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) project, located on the edge of Coventry city centre. The development, known as Charter House, will transform a former industrial site on Charterhouse Road into a modern student living complex, featuring four and six-storey buildings. In addition to high-quality student apartments, the site will offer an array of amenities designed to enhance the student experience. These include dedicated study areas, comfortable lounges, a gym, and a landscaped courtyard with views over the Sherbourne River, ensuring students enjoy both social and natural environments. Designed with sustainability as a priority, Charter House will integrate renewable energy technologies throughout the project. The developers are aiming for an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM, the globally recognised standard for sustainable building design and construction. This underscores the commitment to eco-friendly practices, ensuring the development has minimal environmental impact. Strategically located just a five-minute walk from Coventry University, Charter House is set to meet the rising demand for high-quality student housing in the city. The project will play a crucial role in supporting the university’s growth, while also relieving pressure on local family housing, reducing reliance on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and the private rental sector. Bilal Ahmed, Executive Chairman & Founder of Sama Investments, commented:“We’re thrilled to have received planning approval for Charter House. This brownfield site, so close to Coventry University, provides a fantastic opportunity to create a high-quality student accommodation development that will benefit the city as a whole. Our project will not only meet the growing need for student housing but also help to free up family homes across Coventry. By investing in sustainable design and innovative amenities, we aim to foster student wellbeing and contribute to the city’s ongoing regeneration.” The Charter House development is expected to play a key role in Coventry’s continued urban transformation, creating jobs and driving local economic growth. As part of a wider regeneration plan for the area, the project represents a significant investment in the city’s future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has topped out Lisbon Street in Leeds, a 24-storey Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) project. To mark the occasion, a celebration was held with Winvic’s client CASL Lisbon Street and project fund CA Ventures on the twenty-fourth floor. Located on the corner of Lisbon Street and Castle Street in Leeds city centre, the project comprises 548 single occupancy, en-suite student bedrooms contained within a single tower block. When complete, the student residents will be able to enjoy a 1,593 sq ft first floor roof terrace and a range of shared amenity spaces, including cinema rooms, a fitness centre, a games room, and a TV lounge. As the construction of the concrete framed building has reached the twenty-fourth floor, the aluminium rain screen cladding, which fits in with the wider Lisbon Street development has been installed to the lower floors. Final decorations have been completed also on the lower floors and the Winvic team is currently installing partitions on level 17. Winvic has also been trialling an innovation to reduce the carbon associated with hot works, replacing gas fired boilers for roofing activities with electric boilers. Winvic has been promoting cross-contractor collaboration at the former International Swimming Pool site Lisbon Street, as the PBSA project is one part of a four-plot development also comprising Build-to-Rent apartments and commercial spaces. Winvic took over the Lisbon Street PBSA project in October 2023 and it is due to complete in August 2025. Winvic’s Managing Director for Multi-room, Mark Jones, commented: “The Lisbon Street project in the centre of Leeds has been progressing very well and it was great to celebrate the topping out milestone with our client and the scheme’s funders, CASL Lisbon Street and CA Ventures. With other projects also being constructed adjacent to ours, on the wider Lisbon Street site, there were challenges to consider, but the team’s collaborative skills have ensured that we’re right on programme for completion in summer next year. I’d like to thank the Winvic team for their ongoing hard work and to CASL Lisbon Street for putting their trust in us to complete their 548-bed development.” For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Watkin Jones, the UK’s leading developer and manager of residential for rent, is pleased to announce that the Group recently practically completed on a 335-bed purpose-built student accommodation (‘PBSA’) scheme called The Brook, situated in Lower Bristol Road in Bath. This milestone marks the completion of the final development in a portfolio of three PBSA schemes located in Swansea, Nottingham, and Bath. These schemes were sold by Watkin Jones to EQT Exeter in 2022 as part of a larger transaction, which represented EQT Exeter’s first venture into the UK PBSA market. Part of a major mixed-use project, The Brook is a two-building development that has 215 cluster flats and 120 studios which are now ready for incoming students for the 2024/25 academic year. The scheme will be managed by Fresh, the Group’s specialist accommodation management business. The scheme offers 335 sq m of indoor and outdoor amenity space, featuring a private courtyard and gardens.  Located within a 15-minute walk from the historic city centre, The Brook provides excellent sustainable transport options, including the nearby National Route Four cycling route, local buses, and Bath Spa train station. Built on a former car park, the development will help address Bath’s growing demand for student accommodation.  The University of Bath, a top 10 UK university, remains a prime destination for higher education students and accommodation in the city is stretched across both PBSA and build-to-rent (‘BTR’). The Brook is designed with sustainability in mind, delivering a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Offering a WiredScore Platinum rating, the development ensures a top-tier living experience delivered through technology-enabled amenities.  Furthermore, 170 secure cycle parking spaces are available for student use. Richard Harris, Managing Director – Group Delivery at Watkin Jones, said: “This is another milestone for Watkin Jones, and we are proud to hand over the keys to The Brook in time for the 2024/25 academic year. “We have worked closely with EQT Exeter on this project to strengthen the availability of much-needed student accommodation in Bath, a city renowned for its excellent higher education, attracting both domestic and international students. Fresh will manage The Brook, ensuring it meets the very highest standards for student living and wellbeing. “Watkin Jones remains committed to investing in the South West, to consistently delivering high-quality, sustainable student accommodation that provides a comfortable home for students.” Sam Scott, Managing Director at Fresh, added: ‘We are thrilled to manage The Brook, a development that perfectly aligns with our commitment to creating vibrant, sustainable communities.  At Fresh, we understand the importance of providing students with not just a place to live, but a space where they can thrive. With its modern amenities and focus on wellbeing, The Brook is set to become a standout residence in Bath, offering an exceptional student experience from day one.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The new development, which will replace Mercury Point in Duke Street, will be an exciting addition to the city’s skyline, with 810 beds across two blocks connected by an elevated outdoor terrace. The increase in beds from the current 560 beds will provide the city with much-needed purpose-built student housing, freeing up privately rented homes. To enhance the student living experience, Unite Students has invested £90million over the past year to upgrade properties across its portfolio and improve service levels, and this continues to be a key priority. In July, the business raised a further £450million from investors to help fund new developments and refurbishments of its existing portfolio. Unite Students considered several options, including a renovation of the existing building, and has taken the decision to redevelop the property and close it to students from summer 2025, once this year’s residents have checked out. The new property will fully adhere to Unite Students’ sustainable construction framework, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon in construction and operation. The scheme will aim to achieve a BREEAM Excellent sustainable building certification and include solar panels to generate renewal energy, air-source heat pumps for heating and hot water, and high-performance glazing to help reduce thermal losses. Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said: “We’re excited about the planned redevelopment works at one of our key properties in Southampton as we work to continuously improve the student experience across our portfolio. We’ve worked closely in consultation with the council, the local community and Southampton University to develop these plans. “We’re trusted by parents, students and universities to provide high-quality, safe and affordable accommodation and the planned increase in bed numbers will help free up privately rented homes in the city for families.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Real estate investor, developer and asset manager, Firethorn Trust, has acquired a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development site in Hackney Wick London, under its growing Living platform. Firethorn purchased the site for an undisclosed sum, with planning permission to develop 204 high-quality student beds, 35% of which will be affordable accommodation. It will feature generous amenities, including modern co-working study spaces, common rooms and an outdoor roof terrace. In line with the London Plan, 51% of the accommodation, including the affordable rooms, will be nominated to a London university partner. The remaining beds will be available for direct let to students. The development will also create approximately 1,400 sq. m. of affordable and incubator workspace, working closely with community interest groups to support local businesses and entrepreneurs. With a focus on building quality living spaces with an enhanced specification, this is the second student accommodation scheme to sit within the growing Firethorn Living portfolio, following the acquisition of a 230-bed PBSA site in Leith Walk, Edinburgh earlier this year. Marcus Weeks, Director and Head of Living at Firethorn Trust, commented: “This acquisition reflects our ambition to create modern, sustainable living spaces in prime university locations across the UK. “We are pleased to be playing our part in addressing the significant supply and demand imbalance for high-quality, affordable student housing in London, and look forward to working closely with local stakeholders to deliver a best-in-class development that will make a positive impact on both students and the neighbouring community.” Set on the grounds of the former Broadwood piano factory, the development will preserve and incorporate the site’s historic brick chimney, originally built in 1902. Neighbouring the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick is a 15-minute walk to both University Arts London and UCL East. The area is a vibrant student hotspot, offering a mix of bars and restaurants, with the convenience of Westfield Stratford nearby. Work on site is expected to commence in 2025 and completion targeted for the 2027/28 academic year. For more information, visit www.firethorntrust.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Fusion Group, one of the UK’s leading privately-owned developers and operators of student accommodation, has partnered with global alternative investment manager Cheyne Capital to acquire a second site in Brent Cross Town for the development of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). Brent Cross Town is a major 180-acre mixed-use development in north London, valued at £8 billion. The project is being delivered by Related Argent in partnership with Barnet Council and will eventually feature 6,700 new homes, workspaces for 25,000 people, schools, a high street, leisure spaces, and over 50 acres of parks and playing fields. The newly acquired site will see Fusion and Cheyne Capital deliver a £275 million scheme designed by PRP, which will include approximately 650 student beds along with a range of associated amenities. The planning application for this development is expected to be submitted in the fourth quarter of 2024. The scheme will feature extensive study areas, a digital gaming zone for virtual sports such as football, padel, and tennis, as well as a health kitchen, zero-waste shop, private dining facilities, a yoga studio, a herb garden, and relaxation pods. Situated just minutes away from Claremont Park and close to Brent Cross West station on the Thameslink line, which provides a direct connection to St Pancras International in just 12 minutes, the development boasts excellent transport links to central London universities. Brent Cross Town is also set to host Sheffield Hallam University’s first campus outside Yorkshire. This latest project marks the seventh collaboration between Fusion and Cheyne Capital, and their second venture within Brent Cross Town. Together, their investments in the area will now total approximately £500 million in gross development value (GDV). Fusion and Cheyne’s initial PBSA project in Brent Cross Town, acquired in June 2022 and designed by Glenn Howells Architects, is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2025. This development will offer 662 rooms spread across three connected buildings, along with a dedicated events space, café, zero-waste shop, cinema room, e-sports arena, and a KTV karaoke room. The development will also include group and private study lounges, an on-site gym, yoga and wellness studios, a basketball court, and an external terrace. Julian Evans, Land and Planning Director at Fusion Group, expressed excitement about the project, stating, “Brent Cross Town is London’s most exciting new neighbourhood, and expanding our partnerships with Cheyne and Related Argent to bring more than 1,300 student rooms to it is a privilege. We’ll leverage our extensive experience in developing residential assets in urban regenerations across the country to deliver another best-in-class student scheme as part of the town.” Hamish Gordon of Cheyne Real Estate highlighted the strong demand for high-quality student housing in London, saying, “The student housing market continues to be driven by considerable demand, with a growing need for high-quality and well-located developments across the UK and particularly in London. We are excited to continue our partnership with Fusion to deliver another premium scheme that will benefit both students and the wider community in Brent Cross Town.” Oli Rifkind, Executive Director at Related Argent, welcomed the new development, noting, “Fusion’s track record in providing great student living environments in high-quality and well-managed developments fits perfectly with our aim to create a town where all can flourish. This new development will support future generations to thrive and adds to the vibrant mix at Brent Cross Town.” Councillor Ross Houston, Barnet Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, added, “We are pleased that Fusion and Cheyne Capital have signed up to deliver a second offer for student accommodation, further enhancing our commitment to providing a first-class higher education experience at Brent Cross Town.” This latest development continues the momentum at Brent Cross Town, where seven buildings are currently under construction. The first residents are expected to move in later this year, with the first office building, 3 Copper Square, set for completion in 2026. To date, over 930 homes are under development, including affordable, market sale, and rental properties, alongside the initial 662 student rooms in partnership with Fusion and Cheyne. The first permanent public park, Claremont Park, opened in June 2022, and the Brent Cross West mainline station, operational since December 2023, offers rapid connections to central London. Additionally, Brent Cross Town already boasts a selection of local retail and leisure facilities, with Sheffield Hallam University’s new campus set to further enrich the area. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals