UWE Bristol completes largest UK low-carbon student accommodation
Purdown View, the new PBSA at UWE Bristol has been completed and is the largest low-carbon development in the UK. The student village at the Frenchay campus includes 900 bedrooms. It will be fully occupied for the next academic year starting in September.
With sustainability at its heart, the groundbreaking development has received Passivhaus certification for meeting the highest possible eco credentials. Passivhaus buildings provide excellent occupant comfort while using little energy for heating and cooling. Purdown View will reduce energy by 81% and carbon by 79% per room compared with the housing it replaced.
Students living at Purdown View will benefit from a comfortable temperature year-round and improved internal air quality. Thanks to sustainability features including triple glazed windows, high levels of insulation and a mechanical ventilation system. As a fossil fuel-free development, any heating required will be generated by air-source heat pumps and electricity from solar panels.
Residents also have vibrant green spaces and a new public art sculpture garden on their doorstep, boosting biodiversity on campus. It is hoped it will help support student mental health and wellbeing.
“We are extremely proud to have completed the largest Passivhaus-accredited student housing project in the UK. It demonstrates our commitment to address the challenges of climate change, move towards our 2030 carbon targets and our commitment to student wellbeing and experience.
“We’re looking forward to seeing these fantastic new energy efficient residences being fully occupied by our students later in the year, helping address the shortage of student accommodation in the city and fulfilling our commitment to make more high quality, purpose-built accommodation available on campus for our first-year students.
“Purdown View has been partially occupied since January and we have received very positive feedback from students, who have told us they are proud and excited to be part of an innovative development designed to be as energy efficient as possible and tackle climate change issues.”
Professor Sir Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, UWE Bristol …