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Development pipeline
We aim to have a development pipeline of more than 2,000 beds per annum, creating high-quality accommodation in prime locations.
Featured property
Paddington: Our first fully net-zero carbon development
We aim to build one of the UK’s most environmentally sustainable purpose-built student accommodation properties.
Baltic Wharf, Paddington, London
We plan to make this new development one of our most sustainable buildings by significantly reducing embodied carbon through the use of innovative design and materials with low embodied carbon.
This 800-bed building will be our first net-zero carbon development during construction. Nestled between the Westway flyover and the Grand Union Canal, its green credentials will include a stepped roof garden, which will continue a green ribbon of trees and landscaping that already runs alongside the canal. The equivalent space of seven tennis courts will be landscaped and planted with grasses, shrubs and 25 mature trees.
Subject to planning permission, construction will start in 2022. Once operational, the building will run on 100% renewable sources of heat and electricity, and 10,000 litres of rainwater will be collected annually from roof terraces and used to flush toilets.
Nick Hayes, Group Property Director, said:
“We are aiming for this to be our first ever net-zero carbon building. The development will re-use rainwater, maximise natural light, be fully insulated and will use 100% renewable sources of heat and electricity.
“It will also help to meet the considerable unmet demand for student housing in London, while also bringing substantial social and economic benefits to the area. This is an excellent location for student housing, given its fantastic public transport links and close proximity to so many universities and colleges.”
Featured property
Middlesex Street, Aldgate, London
Construction work has started again on a flagship 920-bed scheme on the site of a former 1960s office block in the City of London.
Middlesex Street, Aldgate, London
Previously paused because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this mixed-use development sits above the remains of the 16th Century, Shakespearian-era Boar’s Head Playhouse, which is being carefully preserved within the building’s footprint when it opens to students in 2022. Project duration is 112 weeks.
As well as providing accommodation, this project in partnership with King’s College, includes flexible office space with incubator space for recent graduates, and a public exhibition area. It includes an 8th floor external roof terrace and the target is to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Featured property
Campbell House, Bristol
A new 431-bed property on the former Bristol Royal Infirmary site which is due to open in time for the start of 2022/23 academic year.
Campbell House, Bristol
The site was acquired in 2015 and the build includes retaining and restoring Fripps Chapel, a grade II listed building and renovating the old Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital. Work on the site includes working with the local council highways team to see roads around the site upgraded which will bring the plot back into use in the city centre. With construction paused during the pandemic, work on the £45 million development has restarted and once completed will be Unite Student’s 15th student accommodation block in Bristol.
Nick Hayes, Group Property Director, said:
“Campbell House will be the jewel in the crown of our properties in Bristol. The mixed-use development will create unique space, sensitively combining new with old in a prime city-centre location.”
“We hope it will become a real asset for both the local community and for the city of Bristol more widely.”
Looking to develop sites
In the pipeline
For September 2022
We will deliver almost 1,400 beds across two developments, one in London and the other in Bristol.
For 2023 and beyond
We are buying sites in the right locations in London, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Bath, Durham, Glasgow (west end) and others major cities to meet the increasing need for high-quality student accommodation.
Requirements
Size: Buildable development of between 80,000 sq ft gross internal area and 400,000 sq ft gross internal area.
Property type:
- All tenures considered, but freehold and long leasehold preferred
- Both new builds and conversions considered
- Buildings shared with other operators and uses e.g. office or industrial
- Within 10 minutes’ walk from transport links to university campuses
Each year, we aim to increase the number of beds available across our portfolio by 2,000 to 2,500. Our current pipeline includes sites in Edinburgh, Bristol, Nottingham and London.
Our suppliers
We work with long-standing contractor partners from the outset of each development. This ensures they are an integral part of the development team, contributing to design, risk mitigation and costing throughout the project. By taking this integrated approach, we are able to deliver accommodation schemes with market leading build costs and shorter lead-times without compromising quality.