£214m university accomodation gets go-ahead
Thousands of new student rooms are to be created at Birmingham’s Aston University campus through a partnership agreement worth £214m. The university, Royal Bank of Scotland and Derby-based housing provider Derwent Living have entered a joint agreement to become trustees of Aston Student Villages.
The trust will manage 3,000 new student rooms on the Birmingham city centre site for the next 35 years. Once completed, the scheme will have increased student accommodation on the campus by more than 40 per cent.
The Bank of Scotland, part of Lloyds Banking Group, has provided the funding and Derwent Living will manage the accommodation.
Paul Wisher, commercial director at The Derwent Living Group, said that the new environmentally sustainable development will involve the demolition of several 1970s tower blocks, the retention of 650 beds at Lakeside and the construction of 2,350 new student units.
He said: “Construction of the first phase of 1,300 rooms has just been completed ready for occupation this term (September 2010), with the next phase of 1,000 rooms being due for completion by August 2013.”
The project will also provide a new artificial five-a-side football pitch and a below ground level car park with 250 spaces at the university.
Martin Corbett, trustee and managing director of Derwent FM, said: “We are proud to be involved in this prestigious scheme. This is a long-term partnership and we will utilise our facilities management and life cycle expertise to ensure the buildings and environment are kept in pristine condition to enhance the student experience.”
