Following a resolution to grant, referral to the GLA and the completion of the Section 106 Agreement, Tide has received full planning permission for its new student development 30 Marsh Wall. Modular construction will cut carbon emissions; build will be faster, cleaner, and safer Scheme increases Tide’s pipeline to more
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
Building will be 15 storeys high at its highest point and is designed to provide affordable student living within an environment to support health and well-being. GMI Construction, a leading main contractor to a growing portfolio of public and private clients throughout the UK has announced that it has been
Caledonian has been awarded a £40m turnkey contract by Studytel® for its 528 student bedroom development at Penryn, near Falmouth in Cornwall. This is the latest in a series of major new multi-million pound contract wins for the Newark-based business. The development will provide high quality accommodation for students studying
A SITE that is smaller than the length of a double decker bus and comes with its own kayak is the latest challenging project to be taken on by construction firm Stepnell. The construction of Boulevard Wharf in Nottingham – comprised of 76 student accommodation studios – is one of
Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) this week held a ceremony to break-ground on a new student halls of residence. The accommodation will be home to 300 students and is situated on AUB’s Wallisdown campus. Designed to fit in with the campus’ cutting-edge design aesthetic, the building will feature eight-bed clusters with
A student-led mixed-use development scheme in London has secured funding of £125 million. The development, which will be offered exclusively to King’s College London (KCL) students, will feature 654 beds alongside 60,000 sq. ft of Grade-A office accommodation and an incubator space for entrepreneurial start-up businesses. Urbanest’s Aldgate scheme, to
Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has started work on three new alternative provision Free School academies in Lincolnshire. The Springwell Alternative Academies project is being delivered in partnership with Wellspring Academy Trust and will create more than 180 places for students aged 4-16. The three academies consist of two brand
Nottingham-based consulting engineers Howard Ward Associates (HWA) has been appointed to work on a major £20M student accommodation scheme on Westwood Way, Warwickshire. The site of the planned 380-bed student accommodation project is currently occupied by an office building, which has been vacant for more than four years. When works
Unite Students, the UK’s leading manager and developer of student accommodation, has been granted a planning approval to develop a 928-bed student accommodation development in Leeds. The site, located on Merrion Way in the city centre, is close to both the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University. The site would
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Following a resolution to grant, referral to the GLA and the completion of the Section 106 Agreement, Tide has received full planning permission for its new student development 30 Marsh Wall. Modular construction will cut carbon emissions; build will be faster, cleaner, and safer Scheme increases Tide’s pipeline to more than 3,000 homes currently under construction with a significant further pipeline 30 Marsh Wall will provide 1,068 student beds with enhanced public realm including a park Industry leading modular developer and contractor Tide Construction has secured planning permission for a student accommodation scheme at 30 Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, London, providing 1,068 beds. The building, designed by award-winning practice EPR Architects, will provide amenity space and a generously sized roof garden. The surrounding public realm will be enhanced with the creation of a much-needed public path between Cuba Street and Marsh Wall and a cleverly designed, high-quality recreational space or ‘pocket park’. Tide is the scheme’s developer and contractor and will construct the building with precision-made modules manufactured by its market-leading sister company Vision Modular Systems. The development further bolsters Tide Construction’s pipeline of projects under construction and in planning. Tide has more than 3,000 homes under construction and has seen sustained year-on-year growth in the past decade. Tide Construction, in partnership with its volumetric modular company Vision Modular Systems, has already delivered a significant portfolio of modular developments for institutional investors and partners in the UK across a range of asset classes including housing, hotels and Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). A recent independent academic study of Tide & Vision’s accredited method of delivery found it reduces embodied carbon emissions by up to 45%. The approach also cuts construction time by up to 50% and results in a more dependable construction programme, with efficient construction logistics minimising disruption in the local area. At Marsh Wall, as pointed out by the planning officer’s report, Tide and Vision’s method of delivery will result in an 80% reduction in site waste, while ensuring that 100 % of any waste produced, is recycled. John Fleming, Chairman of Tide Construction, said: “This landmark scheme bolsters our portfolio of major schemes in London, further strengthening Tide and Vision’s role in revolutionising the way in which homes are delivered in the UK. Working in close collaboration with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and our consultants, this scheme will further demonstrate the power of modular to deliver buildings of the highest architectural quality with world-leading engineering. Thanks to sustained year-on-year growth in delivery and pipeline, Tide and Vision Modular will continue to develop and build institutional-grade buildings that confirm volumetric modular as a mainstream method of construction.” Pascal Wensink, Design Director of EPR Architects, said: “30 Marsh Wall truly showcases both the sustainability and the flexibility of the Vision Modular System, allowing us to have design freedom while benefitting from the offsite approach. The building has been designed to distinguish itself from a distance with a light bronze aluminium feature on the principal façade which extends vertically to form an expressive crown. The associated landscaping developed in collaboration with Spacehub forms part of a wider public realm strategy to enhance permeability and biodiversity on the Isle of Dogs.” Design Notes The form of the tower responds to the site’s complex triangular nature, proximity to adjacent buildings and significant level change. A light bronze aluminium vertical band on the principal façade highlights the main entrance before extending up the full 48 storeys, connecting with an identical feature on the opposite elevation at the top of the building to form a distinct crowning expression. Secondary horizontal articulations varying in depth to provide solar shading on each level with a white glazed terracotta infill creates an undulating pattern around the building, transitioning into a dark bronze to form a continuous plinth around its base. This scheme clearly demonstrates the flexibility in design that the Vision Modular System makes possible.
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.”
Building will be 15 storeys high at its highest point and is designed to provide affordable student living within an environment to support health and well-being. GMI Construction, a leading main contractor to a growing portfolio of public and private clients throughout the UK has announced that it has been appointed as the main contractor to construct a new 604-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Leeds. The development situated on Carlton Hill in Leeds will see the demolition of a 20 year-old, 239 -bed student accommodation block to make space for the new development. The new building, which will be 15 storeys at the highest point, has been designed to provide affordable living, with a strong emphasis on an environment to support students’ mental health and well-being. It is planned for students to move into the new building during September 2023. The £40M project is the culmination of several years of planning and dialogue between Pickard Properties and Unipol Student Homes who will lease the building for exclusive use by students attending the University of Leeds. It will incorporate several fully landscaped three-storey “sky gardens”, allocated to clusters of apartments. The open-air theme also extends to ground floor level with its own courtyard, providing a combination of natural and interactive spaces for student studying and socialising. Commenting on the project Lee Powell, Divisional Managing Director of GMI, said: “This is a significant project win for GMI and we are looking forward to working with Pickard Properties, Fox Lloyd Jones and the rest of the team in changing the landscape of the Leeds City skyline. “The scheme enables GMI to enhance its successful track record of delivering student residential living and we are proud to be involved in a ground-breaking design that caters for students’ mental wellbeing.” Also talking about the project Miles Pickard Director of Pickard Properties said: “We recognise there has been a huge change to students’ needs, and therefore a considerable amount of thought has been given to the design, social circulation and interaction for the wellbeing of students. “We are really looking forward to developing Carlton Hill for the students of Leeds to enjoy this modern, cutting-edge addition to the accommodation available to them in the city. Martin Blakey of Unipol added: “We are looking forward to 2023 when we will take delivery of what will be an exciting new living environment, available at an affordable rent providing value for money, for students of the university. “Everyone involved in this development has worked hard to ensure this building will be a home from home and a great place to live.”
Caledonian has been awarded a £40m turnkey contract by Studytel® for its 528 student bedroom development at Penryn, near Falmouth in Cornwall. This is the latest in a series of major new multi-million pound contract wins for the Newark-based business. The development will provide high quality accommodation for students studying at the Penryn Campus, which is shared by Falmouth University and the University of Exeter. Providing a new, high-tech and innovative approach to student accommodation, the Studytel® scheme includes single bedrooms, self-contained studios and cluster apartments with shared kitchens and communal spaces. Caledonian was chosen because of its successful track record supplying large modular projects and recent experience on other high-quality student accommodation schemes, along with the ability to develop a cost-effective volumetric design solution for this aesthetically striking building. Caledonian will manufacture the modules at its factory in Newark concurrently as the construction of the concrete framed structure is created on site. This approach will significantly reduce the overall construction schedule, enabling handover in time for the new term in September. Paul Lang, CEO of Caledonian Modular, said: “In spite of the events happening on a world stage, we continue to grow and develop as a business. The Studytel® project is the latest major contract win for Caledonian. A large proportion of our recent new business wins are turnkey projects as clients are beginning to understand the benefits it gives them in terms of budget certainty, speed to market and quality consistency.” Paul added: “Our growth over the last few years is the result of our strong position in the modular market. Through our ongoing improvements in design and material selection as well our ability to consistently deliver projects on time and within budget, we have become a trusted partner for volumetric building solutions.” Caledonian continues to invest in Building Information Modelling (BIM), design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) and lean manufacturing techniques allowing it to supply a finished product more efficient, with higher levels of factory completion and of far higher quality than that achieved in traditional construction. The first phase of Studytel® Penryn is due to open to students at the start of the academic year 2021/22 To find out more about Caledonian modular buildings and offsite construction solutions, visit: www.caledonianmodular.com
A SITE that is smaller than the length of a double decker bus and comes with its own kayak is the latest challenging project to be taken on by construction firm Stepnell. The construction of Boulevard Wharf in Nottingham – comprised of 76 student accommodation studios – is one of the most complex jobs taken on by the contractor to date due to the unusual dimensions of the 11-metre-wide site and its proximity to the city’s canal. Because of this, a kayak forms part of the team’s emergency rescue procedure, meaning that any items that inadvertently fall into the canal can be retrieved. Shaun Moses, site manager for Stepnell, said: “It is certainly one of the more unusual sites we’ve worked on. Along with the obvious issues that come with building so close to the canal edge brings, the overall site is just 11 metres wide, meaning that day-to-day operations must be very carefully managed. “With incredibly tight boundaries and the buildings themselves designed to fill the entirety of its footprint, the site is a real challenge, but the team has worked closely with the developers from an early stage to create a solution that is workable and allows the whole operation to run smoothly.” The project sees the studios spread across three buildings providing views over the canal and towards the city of Nottingham. Designed by MAS Architecture, the scheme will also feature high-spec communal areas, including an on-site gym and movie room. Tom Sewell, East Midlands’ regional director at Stepnell, said: “The story of this site is really one of collaboration. Our team worked extensively with the client through the design development process in order to design and manage a project that met a high standard in terms of appearance and finishes – all while working to the budget and the challenges the site provides.” Muthar Al-Salloum, managing director of MAS Architecture, said: “This is a prestigious development that we are really pleased to deliver. Boulevard Wharf will provide much-needed contemporary student accommodation within Nottingham city centre and the scheme is one of only a few self-contained student accommodation developments in the city – providing all the necessary facilities onsite – thus creating a homely and luxurious environment for students to thrive in.” To find out more about Stepnell visit: www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd
Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) this week held a ceremony to break-ground on a new student halls of residence. The accommodation will be home to 300 students and is situated on AUB’s Wallisdown campus. Designed to fit in with the campus’ cutting-edge design aesthetic, the building will feature eight-bed clusters with communal kitchens and dining areas centred around a landscaped courtyard. The high quality accommodation includes roof-top solar panels, assisting in reducing the building’s energy demand, leading the way in sustainable living. The building has been designed by Design Engine Architects, who have created many of AUB’s existing and award-winning buildings. Design Engine pride themselves on creating architecture with sustainability at its core. The development boasts impressive sustainability credentials to benefit both students and local residents. The design includes upgrading the pedestrian and cycle routes that connect nearby areas. Specifically, this will involve linking Wallisdown Road and Gillett Road to Fern Barrow and significant public lighting design improvements. Emphasis has been placed on sustainable travel; ample covered and secure bicycle parking has been integrated into the design, aligning the project with AUB’s travel plan to promote safe and sustainable travel for students and staff. As part of the development, significant consideration has been given to the landscape design. Within the development, structured landscaped courtyards have been designed around buildings providing a vital link between external and internal spaces and promoting an environment of wellbeing. Over one hundred new trees will be planted, creating more green spaces for students and local residents. Morgan Sindall Construction were appointed as developers through the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), which ensures projects are delivered with social responsibility and transparent procurement procedures. Perfect Circle (AECOM) were appointed via the Scape Group’s National Built Environment Consultancy Services framework and are leading the multi-disciplinary team on this exciting project. The construction will provide approximately 20 new employment opportunities, use local sub-contractors where possible, and support apprenticeship training schemes so local young people are developing their skills by working on the build. The project team, during the early stages, engaged the local community through the planning and consultation process and have taken on board feedback received. This has seen a reduction in mass of some of the new accommodation blocks from four to three storeys and features architectural and landscape designs that will bring significant benefit to the overall street scene and public amenity. The student accommodation will be built to a high design spec, and provide a high living standard for those who are accommodated on campus. The project supports AUB strategic goal of becoming the leading professional arts university, and is due to be completed in August 2020. Nick Welch, Chief Operating Officer at Arts University Bournemouth, said: “The AUB campus is where our students experiment, innovate and push boundaries and work with industry-standard technology and spaces to equip them for life in the creative industries. With this project, we hope to provide a home for our students where they can thrive, whilst continuing to provide a creative hub, designed for specialists.” Head of Corporate Banking for HSBC in Hampshire and Dorset, Anthony Reed, said: “HSBC UK are delighted to be partnering with such a successful creative institution and supporting their ambitious plans for the future. “Our local Relationship team are excited to leverage our International footprint and sector experience to bring this strategy to life, which in turn will support the growth of the local economy and development of so many talented individuals.”
A student-led mixed-use development scheme in London has secured funding of £125 million. The development, which will be offered exclusively to King’s College London (KCL) students, will feature 654 beds alongside 60,000 sq. ft of Grade-A office accommodation and an incubator space for entrepreneurial start-up businesses. Urbanest’s Aldgate scheme, to be known as UrbanestCity, is being completed by Balfour Beatty with a funding loan from M&G Investments. “This is Urbanest’s most ambitious student-led mixed-use development to date, providing a unique blend of student housing, heritage, entrepreneurial innovation, commerce and leisure space uses which will sit alongside and complement each other in the completed scheme. We are delighted to be working with M&G and KCL again and our aspiration with Urbanest City is to add another landmark location within our expanding PBSA portfolio,” said Vicky Skinner, CFO at Urbanest. The remains of a bastion tower and part of the 4th century wall that encircled the Roman City of Londinium are concealed beneath the Aldgate development. Urbanest is working with Museum of London to incorporate these archaeological remains into the project, which consolidates two former office buildings (Emperor House and Roman Wall House) acquired by Urbanest in early 2017. The Roman remains are set to be made readily accessible to the public for the first time within a three-storey gallery and museum. “Urbanest continues to provide fantastic facilities for students in London and we are delighted to expand our relationship and enable the construction of this exciting development. We continue to see increasing demand for student accommodation in the capital and this deal provides our institutional investors with access to attractive returns secured against high quality real estate in London’s city centre,” added Adam Willis, Associate Director in M&G’s Real Estate Finance team. The building is scheduled for completion in 2021.
Regional contractor G F Tomlinson has started work on three new alternative provision Free School academies in Lincolnshire. The Springwell Alternative Academies project is being delivered in partnership with Wellspring Academy Trust and will create more than 180 places for students aged 4-16. The three academies consist of two brand new facilities; on New Beacon Road, Grantham and Macauley Drive, Lincoln. The third is located in Mablethorpe at the former Monks Dyke Tennyson secondary school where three existing small teaching blocks are being refurbished, remodelled and extended to create the new Academy. The academies will provide learning opportunities for children and young people who are unable to attend mainstream schools for a variety of reasons ranging from mental or physical health difficulties to behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Each academy will accommodate around 60 pupils and, in addition to specialised teaching spaces, will feature an assembly hall, SEN (Special Educational Needs) therapy room, sensory room, hygiene room, fitness suite, parents’ room and multiple use games area. Ian Dalby, framework manager at G F Tomlinson said: “G F Tomlinson has an outstanding track record in delivering educational projects for local communities under the ESFA Framework. “We are thrilled to have started on site and are looking forward to working with Wellspring Academy Trust over the coming months to deliver these new academies, giving students the chance to reach their full potential in an environment which suits their individual needs.” Josh Greaves, chief operating officer from Wellspring Academy Trust, said: “We are hugely excited that work is now underway across the three sites under G F Tomlinson’s curation, whose reputation speaks for itself. “These will be transformational facilities for the children of Lincolnshire, supporting the Wellspring’s aspiration to make a difference to the lives and life chances of all those within our care.” All three schools are expected to complete in summer 2019.
Nottingham-based consulting engineers Howard Ward Associates (HWA) has been appointed to work on a major £20M student accommodation scheme on Westwood Way, Warwickshire. The site of the planned 380-bed student accommodation project is currently occupied by an office building, which has been vacant for more than four years. When works start towards the end of 2018, the building will be demolished to make way for the new sustainable residential scheme to be built. The Oaks, which received planning permission in April, is due for completion for the 2020/2021 academic year. HWA has been chosen to work on the scheme on behalf of McLaren Property to provide advice and a range of engineering services, including civil and structural engineering and pre-planning engineering services such as ground investigation, transport planning and flood risk assessment. Dan Bailey, partner at HWA, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with McLaren Property having worked on numerous student accommodation schemes across the country since 2013 with them, which is why we are very pleased to be working with the team again on this exciting bespoke project. “This is an interesting residential project within the education sector that incorporates a historic watercourse running through it. The watercourse has dried up but needs to be maintained throughout the development in case flows are able to be restored, meaning it has become an interesting landscape feature. “Both Coventry and Warwick University continue to see an increased demand for student accommodation, so we are pleased to be able to help fill that gap in the market locally and to be helping to deliver a high-quality scheme.” The Oaks will feature a number of social learning spaces as well as fitness facilities, onsite bicycle storage, excellent pedestrian links and easy access to local bus services when complete. Bruce Ruddle, development director at McLaren Property, said: “We are delighted that planning permission for our new student accommodation scheme on the site of 1 The Oaks has been approved by Coventry City Council. “The building has been vacant for several years and we are looking forward to regenerating the site and providing high quality student accommodation close to existing educational establishments. “It is anticipated that construction of the scheme will commence later in 2018, with the scheme expected to be completed for the 2020/2021 academic year.” HWA is also working on a number of other high-end projects in the West Midlands, including two other student accommodation projects in Birmingham, a distribution park and church in Dunchurch, and is currently undertaking roof inspections on a commercial premise in connection with PV solar panel installations. The firm, whose head office is located on Walkers Yard, Nottingham, delivers construction engineering consultancy services across a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, emergency services, commercial and residential across the country.
Unite Students, the UK’s leading manager and developer of student accommodation, has been granted a planning approval to develop a 928-bed student accommodation development in Leeds. The site, located on Merrion Way in the city centre, is close to both the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University. The site would increase Unite’s Leeds portfolio to 4,376 beds, serving a student population of 58,000, and further enhancing Unite’s operating efficiency in the city. In the last five years, Unite’s occupancy in the city has been 99% with over 1,800 beds subject to nominations agreements with Leeds universities. The development will generate a development yield in line with our target returns and will be funded from internally generated sources. It is expected to be open for the 2020 academic year. The transaction reflects Unite’s strategy of aligning its property portfolio with high-ranking universities where student numbers are growing whilst underpinning further earnings growth. Nick Hayes, Group Property Director, Unite Students said: “Leeds is a strong performing market, with a diverse and growing student population. With two high quality Universities, we expect demand for quality, affordable student accommodation to grow and this development will help to fulfil that need.”
