Southwark Council has granted planning permission for a new student housing and residential development by Sellar Property Group (Sellar). Following a unanimous decision from Southwark Council, Sellar will develop 444 purpose-built student homes, fully direct let, with eight affordable homes for local key workers and flexible office and retail space.
Construction works are well underway for a new £2million high-spec student accommodation scheme in Northampton town centre. Delivered by nationwide refurbishment contractor, Fortis Vision, Orient House – a purpose-built 41-bed student building on Kettering Road – will provide accommodation where there is a chronic shortage for Northampton University. Works will
Balfour Beatty Investments (BBI), part of leading international infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty, has unveiled proposals for a flagship student living scheme at 8 Torwood Close, in Westwood Heath, Coventry. The plans, which are now subject to a consultation, will provide approximately 780 student bedrooms across two buildings as well as
GMI Construction Group has begun work on a 303-bed student accommodation in James Street, York. It was awarded the £22m contract to construct the building after York-based S Harrison Developments secured planning consent for student use in 2022. The project has commenced after a forward funding deal was agreed by
THE LATEST phase of The Island Quarter in Nottingham moved a step closer to completion on Wednesday 7 June, as the final structural beam of its student accommodation scheme was put in place. The moment was marked with a topping out ceremony for the ongoing phase, which will be home to
The University of Manchester has unveiled the next phase of plans to provide additional student accommodation on the Fallowfield campus. The major redevelopment will include Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall. The University is progressing an outline planning application which would replace existing bedspaces with up to 3,300 new
A new development by real estate company Dominus, which will help solve the student housing crisis in Manchester, has been given the green light by Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. The One Medlock Street scheme will provide more than 1,000 beds for the city’s university students, who would
Puma Property Finance (Puma) has today announced it is providing a development facility for Glenmore’s most recent purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project in Dundee. The £25 million, 152-bed all-studio accommodation is located minutes away from both the University of Dundee and Abertay University, next to the city centre. The development
Developer Watkin Jones has secured funds managed by KKR to build a 819-bed purpose-built student housing (PBSA) scheme in Bristol. The consideration will be payable to Watkin Jones over the course of the development located in Dalby Avenue, Bedminster, which is due for completion in August 2024. It includes an
Chapman Taylor, working with Turley, Stace LLP, and Churchman Thornhill Finch, is delighted to announce the submission of a detailed planning application for the prestigious Queen’s Hospital Close development in Birmingham. The proposed mixed residential development aims to revitalise the historic site and contribute to the vibrant urban fabric of
Southwark Council has granted planning permission for a new student housing and residential development by Sellar Property Group (Sellar). Following a unanimous decision from Southwark Council, Sellar will develop 444 purpose-built student homes, fully direct let, with eight affordable homes for local key workers and flexible office and retail space. Named ‘King’s Place’, Sellar has said that the development will be designed to the highest wellbeing standards, in a location with first rate connections to world class universities. King’s Place will offer more than double the average internal and external amenity per room found in Purpose-Built Student Accommodation across London, with a high-quality offering as standard across all rooms, including the wheelchair-accessible studios. King’s Place will also deliver 1,850 sq m of flexible work and retail space, including a corner café on Borough High Street, and a new pocket park that will be created on Harper Road. In line with Sellar’s broader ambition towards sustainable development, King’s Place will be an all-electric building that can be carbon free through green power procurement. Sellar is also aiming for BREEAM Excellent as a minimum target for the development, which is currently on track to be BREEAM Outstanding. The one-acre site occupies a prime location fronting Newington Causeway and Borough High Street. It marks the point of transition between Elephant & Castle, Bankside, Borough and the London Bridge opportunity areas, and therefore has excellent accessibility and transport links, with access to multiple nearby educational institution, including to King’s College London and London South Bank University. James Sellar, chief executive of Sellar, said: “King’s Place is redefining the design of student accommodation in London in a location with unrivalled connections to world class universities. To deliver exemplar student accommodation, the design focusses on health, well-being and comfort for students – rooms are generous and well lit, with abundant internal and external amenity spaces throughout. This combined with its ease of access to central London make the site the optimum location for student living. The project also furthers our long-term track record of working with and making a positive contribution to Southwark through regenerative developments, adding King’s Place to our successful projects at Shard Quarter and Bermondsey Yards.” Morris+Company is the architect for the development, DP9 acted as planning consultant and Savills advised on funding on the scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction works are well underway for a new £2million high-spec student accommodation scheme in Northampton town centre. Delivered by nationwide refurbishment contractor, Fortis Vision, Orient House – a purpose-built 41-bed student building on Kettering Road – will provide accommodation where there is a chronic shortage for Northampton University. Works will include the refurbishment of an existing building to provide six one-bedroom apartments, alongside the construction of an 11,500 sq. ft. new build comprising three floors of six cluster flats with a total of 35 individual en-suite bedrooms. The development will reinvigorate a previously derelict town centre building while addressing a need for purpose-built accommodation as identified by the university, and Orient House marks the beginning of Fortis Vision’s move into the new build main contractor marketplace following extensive experience in delivering multiple refurbishments for large purpose-built accommodation. The scheme commenced for client, Abington Park Investments, in December 2022 and works are due to be completed in September 2023, in time for the new university year start. The installation of the steel frame structure and roof structure finished at the end of May and brickwork, roof coverings and windows will now allow the interior fit out with drylining and mechanical and electrical works to move forward this summer. To incorporate an additional seven bedrooms, alterations were made to the initial foundation design to include over 60 piles with a steel reinforced ground beam. To overcome the challenges of the small island site, careful planning and unconventional reordering of works was necessary to operate in the location, which was limited on space for site access, material deliveries, storage and plant and crane usage. Lee Stow-Smith, project manager of Orient House at Fortis Vision, said: “We are pleased to be progressing with works for Orient House in Northampton, providing prime student residential accommodation for the university’s new September intake. “Our first foray into the new build main contractor marketplace, we hope this marks the beginning of building some great relationships with stakeholders for future new build projects.” Owner and director of Abington Park Investments, said: “Fortis Vision have excelled to date, exceeding expectations and overcoming multiple challenges and we look forward to the completion of the project.” Fortis Vision worked alongside Hawkes Group for the groundworks, Fusion Building Systems for the steel frame, Walker Modular for the bathroom pods and Whites Estates Lettings as marketing agent for the owners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Balfour Beatty Investments (BBI), part of leading international infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty, has unveiled proposals for a flagship student living scheme at 8 Torwood Close, in Westwood Heath, Coventry. The plans, which are now subject to a consultation, will provide approximately 780 student bedrooms across two buildings as well as shared cluster rooms for students, and a range of amenities including study areas, lounges, cinema room, and a gym. Green roofs, terraces and outdoor courtyards are also included, with the aim of creating a cohesive student community which maximises the student experience and enhances wellbeing. The proposed site is strategically located a short distance from the University of Warwick and is currently an underutilised stand-alone office block. The site is situated between an existing student accommodation campus and a proposed scheme, which has recently been granted planning consent. Balfour Beatty Investments, said: “The proposed site at Torwood Close is ideally suited to student accommodation. Situated close to the University of Warwick and easily accessible from Coventry University, the proposals can quickly meet the growing demand for student beds. “Importantly, it will help unlock existing family housing elsewhere in the city rather than force students to rely on HMOs and the private rented sector. “Part of a wider transition within the area, our proposals will be highly sustainable and make use of a prominent brownfield site. We look forward to engaging with the community and others to ensure the benefits are maximised.” A public consultation has now been launched. You can find out more about the proposals, and leave feedback, by attending a public exhibition on 12th July, 3pm-7pm at 8 Torwood Close, Westwood Heath, Coventry. A consultation website will be made live on 12th July at 7pm. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has begun work on a 303-bed student accommodation in James Street, York. It was awarded the £22m contract to construct the building after York-based S Harrison Developments secured planning consent for student use in 2022. The project has commenced after a forward funding deal was agreed by the developer with Singapore-based Q Investment Partners (QIP). Due for completion in spring 2025, it is hoped the development will help address the shortage of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in the city. Following analysis of the rental markets of the top 50 UK universities it was reported in February that York had the highest demand for PBSA in the country. Located just off Lawrence Street, it lies close to both the University of York and York St John University. The four-storey building will comprise 108 individual studio rooms alongside 195 cluster bedrooms with shared living and dining rooms. The ground floor student amenity space consists of a cinema, shared working space, gym, laundry room and reception/common room area. External works include parking spaces and a cycle store. Designed by CSP Architects of York, it includes landscaped areas, including a pocket park on the south east corner of the site. A strip of land along James Street will be adopted as highway, allowing the creation of a 3.5-metre-wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. The site was previously home to an accident repair centre operated by Alton Cars, which has since moved to larger 22,000 sq. ft premises at The Airfield Industrial Estate, Elvington. Once completed, the development will then be operated by the Prestige Student Living brand of Homes for Students with the first students moving in for the start of the 2025 academic year. Andrew Hurcomb, GMI’s Divisional Managing Director, Yorkshire, said: “GMI has a strong track record of delivering student accommodation across the North of England and the Midlands. “The James Street development is in an ideal location given its within walking distance of two universities and will help York confirm its position as a top study destination by expanding the range of quality facilities available for students.” Martyn Harrison, from S Harrison, said: “We have been headquartered in York for over 70 years and have successfully designed and delivered many successful PBSA schemes in York, Leeds and Edinburgh in recent years, totalling thousands of bedrooms. “Our ability to create exceptional developments in highly sought after locations means we have strong relationships with many leading PBSA and institutional investors, both in the UK and globally, and we’re very pleased to agree our first deal with QIP. “High quality PBSA is in real demand in York, especially for schemes like this one, which is so close to both the University of York and York St John University. When this is combined with our local knowledge and QIP’s experience in the sector, there’s no doubt this development will prove to be very popular with the city’s student population.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE LATEST phase of The Island Quarter in Nottingham moved a step closer to completion on Wednesday 7 June, as the final structural beam of its student accommodation scheme was put in place. The moment was marked with a topping out ceremony for the ongoing phase, which will be home to nearly 700 students from next autumn. The block is currently under construction by Bowmer + Kirkland, and once completed will be managed by Fresh, a leading student accommodation provider. In addition for students and anyone else in medical learning is a way to learn to write, visit essay help online and this service will help you out. The student accommodation forms the second phase of the 36-acre development, with the initial phase – restaurant and entertainment venue 1 The Island Quarter – opening its doors in September 2022. The Conygar Investment Company – the developer behind the scheme – has also recently received planning permission for nearly 250,000 sq ft of bioscience and laboratory space which will be situated next to the student accommodation. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “Alongside the recently updated masterplan and the planning consent for our bioscience facility, this topping out is another key landmark in what has already been a pivotal year for The Island Quarter. “From the very outset, we wanted The Island Quarter to be an exemplar of intergenerational living, and this high-quality student accommodation will not only help us reach those ambitions, but also strengthen the offer that Nottingham has for students, ensuring we get the highest calibre of students in our city and attending our universities.” Designed by DAY Architectural, the student accommodation will offer a range of room types including studio flats and cluster living, and also features a high-level sky lounge, private courtyard, socialising and studying space. Christian Parnell, Bowmer + Kirkland regional director, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this significant milestone for the project. The topping out ceremony marks the one year anniversary that B + K started work on this site. Everyone – Conygar, consultants, and ourselves – have worked well together, and collaboratively, to get where we are today. We are now focused on delivering the project for next year’s student intake.” Craig Bryant, strategy and business development director at Fresh, said: “The topping out today is a hugely significant milestone as we move a step closer to welcoming our first cohort of students to their new home in 2024. Fresh has been involved throughout the development, providing advisory services to ensure our unique insight has been designed into the scheme from the beginning to deliver what students want and to exceed our client’s expectations. The Island Quarter is set to be a very exciting development in this great university city, and we can’t wait to add 693 beds to our existing presence in Nottingham.” For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com.
The University of Manchester has unveiled the next phase of plans to provide additional student accommodation on the Fallowfield campus. The major redevelopment will include Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall. The University is progressing an outline planning application which would replace existing bedspaces with up to 3,300 new bedspaces. The redevelopment will be delivered in multiple phases and includes the demolition of Owens Park Tower which has been closed for several years. The work does not affect students currently living in halls at the Fallowfield campus and prospective students can continue to apply for existing halls as normal. The University has launched an accompanying public consultation to gauge the opinions of students, staff and local residents. The public consultation will close on the 30 June, prior to the submission of the outline planning application to Manchester City Council. Commenting on the plans, Dr Simon Merrywest, Director for the Student Experience, University of Manchester said: “The proposals for the redevelopment of this area of the Fallowfield campus will strengthen the University’s ability to offer a world-class, supportive student experience in well-located, good value, quality accommodation. This redevelopment provides an opportunity to widen the choice and supply of student bedrooms whilst ensuring they are fulfilling the requirements of future students studying at the University. “Through creating these welcoming and inclusive spaces, it helps create a positive sense of place for our students as they live, learn and thrive within the surrounding community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new development by real estate company Dominus, which will help solve the student housing crisis in Manchester, has been given the green light by Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. The One Medlock Street scheme will provide more than 1,000 beds for the city’s university students, who would otherwise be forced to live in privately rented houses. The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University attract around 45,000 and 36,000 students a year respectively, while only 26,830 professionally managed student beds in Manchester remain available. If current demand levels from students continue to grow at a predicted rate of 3.2% each year, then up to 14,772 additional students will be forced into privately-owned accommodation, taking vital supply away from the broader rental market. Manchester City Council’s recently-published PBSA Study identifies Dominus’ One Medlock Street development as one of the key named sites committed to meeting the city’s needs for student beds over the coming years. The development, which includes two new buildings with 13 and 37 storeys respectively, replaces an existing Premier Inn hotel and is expected to support 475 jobs and provide a £198 million productivity boost to the local area during construction. Jay Ahluwalia, Principal Director at Dominus Real Estate, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Whitbread to create a mixed-use scheme that will provide an attractive, sustainable and well-connected hub for work, study and living. Our aim is to provide a huge boost to Manchester’s Southern Gateway, contributing to the continued regeneration of the First Street area. “Our One Medlock Street scheme will bring high-quality and flexible Grade A offices, much-needed student housing at a location supported by the City Council and a better street-level experience for all. “Dominus Real Estate’s portfolio ranges from hotels to residential and office spaces, and we are constantly expanding our £2.4 billion pipeline by working with universities, local councils and other local stakeholders to meet the most pressing demands of those communities. “We are delighted that Manchester City Council have resolved to grant planning permission at Planning Committee. We look forward to starting on-site and delivering this exciting project.” As well as student accommodation, the development – being delivered alongside partners Whitbread – also includes office space with room for 2,200 jobs, a landscaped pocket park and rain garden, and “green streets” connecting the site to the wider First Street Regeneration Area. There will also be a nine-story piece of public art to enhance the site. Once completed, the scheme is expected to contribute £1.6 million in business rates each year. The plans have been designed by award-winning architects Jon Matthews Architects, who have delivered a number of transformative regeneration projects in Manchester including Axis, Oxygen and Brazennose House, and Planit-IE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Puma Property Finance (Puma) has today announced it is providing a development facility for Glenmore’s most recent purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project in Dundee. The £25 million, 152-bed all-studio accommodation is located minutes away from both the University of Dundee and Abertay University, next to the city centre. The development will be Puma’s third with Glenmore and will seek to alleviate a growing under supply of new build stock in the city, particularly amenity rich, studio accommodation. Construction has already commenced on site and the project expects to be completed in time for the start of the 2024/5 academic year. More broadly, this deal comes at a time of increasing demand for student accommodation,[i] with the number of first-year undergraduate students projected to increase and applicants potentially reaching one million by 2030. According to a recent Savills report, there are currently 31% fewer 5+ bed properties listed for rent in Q1 2023 compared with the pre-pandemic average, which has impacted accommodation options for students.[ii] Coupled with increasing demand from international students to study in the UK, PBSA developments are playing a significant role in addressing the demand and supply dynamics across the UK. Eliot Kaye, Managing Director at Puma Property Finance commented: “We are delighted to be working again with our trusted partner, Glenmore, to address the increasing demand for high-quality student accommodation in Dundee which has been historically undersupplied. PBSA is an asset class that we know well, and this development represents our sustained commitment to the sector. Andrew Whiteley of Glenmore Student Property commented: “Ensuring that students have high-quality living facilities is a crucial challenge that must be addressed if we are to enable those who wish to continue their education to do so. Through our continued work with Puma Property Finance, this PBSA development in Dundee will go some way to addressing the shortage of new build accommodation options in the area. Within walking distance from two universities, it will be well placed to serve student demands.” [i] Savills, UK Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Spotlight [ii] Savills, UK Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Spotlight Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Watkin Jones has secured funds managed by KKR to build a 819-bed purpose-built student housing (PBSA) scheme in Bristol. The consideration will be payable to Watkin Jones over the course of the development located in Dalby Avenue, Bedminster, which is due for completion in August 2024. It includes an initial net cash receipt for Watkin Jones of around £25 million. KKR is making the investment through its European Core Plus Real Estate strategy, which focuses on thematic investments in high-quality, substantially stabilised assets with long-term growth potential. Upon completion, the 819-bed scheme will be fully leased to The University of Bristol on a long-term basis. The development will deliver a mix of 5-12 bed cluster flats together with around 15,000 sq.ft. of internal amenity space and considerable external amenity space including a private terrace, courtyard, and gardens. The site has transport links to the University campuses and is located close to Bedminster train station and within walking distance to Bristol’s city centre. With two established universities in the city, Bristol continues to be a leading destination of choice for students in higher education. However, accommodation in the UK’s eighth largest city is stretched across both the build-to-rent (BtR) and PBSA markets. The creation of the new major PBSA development in Bedminster is important in helping the city to address the on-going and increasing demand for student accommodation. The PBSA scheme is located in one of the five key sites identified in Bristol City Council’s Bedminster Green Framework as a priority for redevelopment. Alex Pease, Chief Investment Officer, Watkin Jones, said: “We are delighted to have secured our second deal with KKR, and would like to thank them for their efforts and partnership approach in reaching this agreement. This is an exciting opportunity to develop a key area of regeneration in the Bedminster area of Bristol for the ever-growing student needs in the city. “The sale is further evidence of the attractive investment and operational fundamentals of both PBSA as a sector and Bristol as a city and a good sign of investment markets re-opening. “Watkin Jones has a strong track record of developing PBSA schemes in Bristol as rising demand continues, including work recently completed at Wilder Street and Unity Street last year, in addition to work currently underway on a PBSA site on Gas Lane. “We are really excited as Bristol is widely regarded as one of the UK’s top university towns for education but also it represents one of the most vibrant and inclusive cities for students to live. Offering a wide range of bars, shops, and restaurants, it is a city for students to enjoy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Chapman Taylor, working with Turley, Stace LLP, and Churchman Thornhill Finch, is delighted to announce the submission of a detailed planning application for the prestigious Queen’s Hospital Close development in Birmingham. The proposed mixed residential development aims to revitalise the historic site and contribute to the vibrant urban fabric of the city. The plans encompass an innovative blend of 189 Build to Rent apartments and 759 Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) residential bedrooms. Located on the grounds of the former Birmingham Accident Hospital, the development will breathe new life into the site while honouring its rich heritage. Part of the proposal involves the careful refurbishment of the two remaining listed buildings, ensuring their preservation and activation. These buildings will house communal facilities, including a public café and a gym, fostering a sense of community within the development. Designed with a landscape-led approach, the site layout seeks to transform the currently gated area into an inviting environment. It features a series of landscaped courtyards responding sensitively to the adjacent canal, and generous new public ream creating a harmonious setting for the listed buildings. The new buildings have been thoughtfully conceived as a family grouping, gradually stepping up in height from east to west. At the junction of Bath Row and the Birmingham Old Line Canal, a tall building will serve as a distinctive landmark. While each building boasts its own unique identity through variation in colour, a common architectural language ensures a cohesive and visually appealing whole. Sustainability lies at the core of the project’s design philosophy, with a commitment to achieving a BREEAM Excellent for the new buildings and Very Good for the listed buildings. Through the implementation of a high-performance building envelope and efficient technical systems, the development aims to minimise energy consumption and carbon emissions. Ecology and biodiversity are woven through the site, with buildings carefully placed to allow retention of the majority of the existing trees, and set back from the canal to provide an ecologically rich edge, preserving the Canal Wildlife Corridor. Additionally, a strong emphasis on connecting residents with the outdoors will enhance their well-being, offering spaces for both active enjoyment and calm reflection. Currently, the planning application is under review by the local authority, with a decision anticipated in early autumn 2023. We look forward to a positive outcome that will pave the way for the realisation of this exceptional development in the heart of Birmingham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
