Construction starts on £81 million student accommodation in Salford

The construction of a new £81 million student accommodation complex is starting at the University of Salford as part of a multi-million pound investment programme to redevelop the campus.

The apartments at the heart of the campus will provide 1,367 modern study bedrooms with ensuite facilities. Each apartment will have its own kitchen and lounge and the complex will contain a cinema, gym, TV and games room, group study lounges, onsite shops, restaurants and cafés.

The accommodation will be sustainable and energy-efficient with a target of achieving an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating (the standard environmental assessment method for buildings).

The consortium Salford Village Limited (comprising investment companies Equitix and Kier Project Investment, Graham Investment Projects and student accommodation operator Campus Living Villages) is developing the property with project finance provided by Standard Life Investments. Graham Construction is carrying out the building works.

Campus Living Villages will run the development on behalf of the consortium when it opens to students in September 2015.

Along with its partners, the University is investing a total of £136m in the Salford campus over the next two and a half years. Last month BAM Construction started building the state-of-the-art £55m ‘Gateway Project’ which will have a theatre, recording and photography studios, café areas, performance and rehearsal spaces, computer suites and lecture theatres. The Gateway Project will open in early 2016 – just a few months after the new student accommodation.

Last year the University spent £9m refurbishing and extending its Chapman Building, and a £1m upgrade of its library services took place during the summer.

Vice-chancellor professor Martin Hall said: “Our new student accommodation will, alongside our other major investments, create a studying and living environment which will be second to none.

“Set next to the historical Peel Park and within walking distance to the centre of the vibrant city of Manchester, students will be catered for like never before.”

Sean McKeown, commercial director at Campus Living Villages, said: “Campus Living Village’s sole business is student accommodation and as a global provider we have a highly experienced team that understands how to deliver the best in student residences to a highly international market.

“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with the University of Salford to continue to enhance the student experience for our customers.”

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