Member Article

GMI Construction Group set to start work on £24m Birmingham student accommodation scheme

GMI Construction Group has announced it has been appointed by specialist student accommodation development company Alumno Group to develop a £24 million purpose-built managed student accommodation scheme on Dogpool Lane, Birmingham.

The project will see the redevelopment of a currently underused former BT brownfield site in the Stirchley. The new 24-hour managed residence will accommodate the growing number of students attending local universities and the city’s dental hospital, taking pressure off private housing in the area.

It will comprise a mix of cluster beds and single occupancy studio rooms for 167 residents, together with a reception and communal areas.

Designed by Glenn Howells Architects, the new building will comprise brickwork and terracotta detailing, which references local materials, while also providing a new identity for the building.

Construction of the development is expected to begin in August and take 86 weeks to build, including 16 weeks demolition. Alumno plans to have the new building completed for the 2023 student intake.

Andy Bruce, GMI Divisional Managing Director – Midlands, said: “GMI and Alumno enjoy a long standing and successful relationship with this project serving as the third development we have undertaken together further to projects in Leeds and Manchester.

“Through this partnership GMI has developed a deep rooted understanding and experience of the student accommodation sector in complement to our growing credentials in the build to rent sector.

“This development has been expertly designed to be sympathetic to the local built environment whilst proving much needed accommodation for the growing number of students choosing to study in Birmingham.”

David Campbell, Alumno Managing Director, said: “We are very happy to have appointed GMI to develop this site in Dogpool Road which will improve the local area visually, provide an economic boost to local businesses, and deliver much needed accommodation for Birmingham’s growing student population.

“GMI are a trusted partner to Alumno and have developed a considerable understanding of our business and the type of accommodation we specialise in developing. We are onsite currently with them with the Church Inn Development in Manchester and The Whitelock Street development in Leeds and look forward to seeing this development come out of the ground over the coming weeks and months.”

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