Member Article

Property group delivering two new student schemes for Liverpool

Commercial property group Downing has revealed the names of the two new student schemes it is delivering in Liverpool.

Both projects have just started on site and are located at key city centre sites. The larger of the two schemes is The Arch, a 241-bed development at the site of the former Scandinavian Hotel in Liverpool’s Chinatown, and directly next to the city’s Chinese arch.

The development features a mix of cluster rooms and studios, plus a 12,000 sq. ft. ground floor retail unit.

The second scheme, The Electra, is a complete new build and consists of 90 studio apartments on what was a car park behind Federation House in Hope Street.

Both developments will be completed in time for the start the academic year in September 2014 – and have show flats available for viewing from December this year.

Paul Houghton, director at Downing, said: “Liverpool is enjoying great success in attracting students from home and abroad and our new schemes will help young people make the most of studying here.

“Liverpool offers a quality of life that’s hard to match elsewhere, not least because of its rich and varied cultural offering and stunning waterfront. Downing has over 25 years’ experience as a student landlord and all of our experience and insight is reflected in the quality and location of schemes like The Arch and The Electra.”

An in-house team from George Downing Construction is delivering both projects. The Arch has been designed by architects Shedkm and lies at an important city centre location at the junction of Duke Street, Nelson Street and Berry Street and next to a huge Chinese Arch that marks the entrance to Chinatown.

The Electra was also designed by Shedkm and is adjacent to Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall.

Merseyside-based Downing has major student schemes in Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, London and Cambridge – and plans to develop this part if its business further in 2014.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .