Year: 2013

A builder has been appointed to design and build new student accommodation buildings plus a new pre-school nursery on the site of Ravenscourt House in Hammersmith.

Mansell, part of construction giant Balfour Beatty, will develop the Paddenswick Road site to create three new buildings which will contain 234 self-contained studio bedrooms.

Retaining the traditional brick styling of the surrounding Edwardian and Victorian buildings, the new accomodation will be three, six and seven storeys tall …

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A working group is putting the future of student housing in Leeds under scrutiny.

Housing consultants have warned it would be “difficult” to refuse planning permission for new student accommodation in the city – despite concerns there are too many student homes.

Members of Leeds City Council’s housing and regeneration scrutiny board are examining trends in student accommodation across the city …

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Plans for hotel and student accommodation on the site of the former Rainbow Slides leisure centre moved a step forward this week.

Members of Stirling Council’s planning panel approved the application by Allanwater Developments and Travelodge, subject to obtaining agreement over a financial contribution towards the City Transport Strategy and the drawing up of further planning conditions.

After being shown plans for what is proposed – essentially three separate buildings on the site housing a total of 11 retail units, a 60-bedroom hotel and student accommodation – many councillors wanted to know about the building materials due to be used …

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Developers building new student accommodation on the London Road want to create more than the already approved 42 bedrooms by ditching plans for parking spaces.

An application has gone in to increase the number of en-suite rooms at the Rye Park House site, which is being converted from offices.

The firm behind the plan, permitted last year by Wycombe District Council, has requested to build more bedrooms in the basement area, instead of nine parking spaces …

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A property company wants to convert an office building in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter into student accommodation.
The building, Mark Royal House on Donegall Street, is close to the Art College.

Progressive Property Investments Ltd has lodged a change of use planning application to convert the building into 45 ensuite single bedrooms.

It would also feature communal living and dining facilities and an external terrace with cycle parking …

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A major development to provide student accommodation in central Middlesbrough could be given outline planning consent this week.

Middlesbrough Council’s planning committee is being recommended on Friday to approve outline permission for a student accommodation project planned for the site at the Knights of St Columba site in Southfield Road.

Empirica Investments is applying for the consent which, if granted, would establish the principle of student accommodation on the site.It is envisaged the development would provide a scheme of up to 158 bedrooms …

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Carlisle construction firm Northern Developments has started work on a £20m redevelopment of the former Tyne-Tees TV studios in Newcastle.

It is building accommodation for 386 students to be ready for the start of the 2014-15 academic year.

Northern, based at Burgh Road Industrial Estate, was founded by Martyn Boak in 1985. It is already a provider of student accommodation under its U-Student brand …

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Plans have been submitted for a four-storey block of student flats in Nottingham.

If the plans are approved, the accommodation will be built in what is now a car park in Gregory Boulevard, Forest Fields.

The application seeks permission for a four-storey building with space for 84 bedrooms and seven student townhouses …

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The UNITE Group plc (UNITE), the UK’s leading developer and manager of student accommodation, has today announced the completion of a £405 million refinancing that provides a new debt funding platform for the UNITE UK Student Accommodation Fund (“USAF”).

HSBC and Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking played a key role in the deal, acting as Lead Arrangers.

The new secured debt funding platform includes £380 million raised though a 10-year sterling fixed-rate bond issue, priced at 3.4%, an £8 million liquidity fund provided by HSBC and a £25 million five-year Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) provided by Lloyds Banking Group …

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Student accommodation provider Unite Group is placing £50m of new shares to raise funds for its developments.

The business, which provides 3,372 beds in 10 halls of residence across Liverpool run by 50 staff, announced today it is placing 16m shares at 25p each, almost 10% of its issued ordinary share capital.

It said the proceeds will be used to fund “a highly targeted regional development programme of approximately 2,500 beds which is expected to offer compelling investment returns” …

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