GRAHAM to build 2,300-bed Manchester PBSA

Manchester Metropolitan University and Unite Students have appointed the contractor to deliver the £286m redevelopment of the Cambridge Halls student village.

GRAHAM is expected to deliver the two-phase, 2,300-bed student accommodation scheme by September 2030.

Work to clear the site, which comprises four blocks built in the 1990s providing around 770 beds, is underway.

MMU and Unite’s redevelopment project would see the site’s density ramped up significantly to cater for growing student numbers.

Manchester Metropolitan University needs around 5,700 beds every year to meet the demand from its first year and international students, but currently owns around 2,500 beds, according to the university.

It is hoped that the project and others like it across the city will ease the pressure on the private rented sector and free up flats for non-students by providing specialist accommodation for university goers.

Designed by Cartwright Pickard, the new-look Cambridge Halls features two towers of 30 and 24 storeys and would provide a mis of studios and cluster apartments.

Andrew Fallon, Chief Property Officer at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: ““We’re thrilled to be moving into the construction phase of this landmark project and to be working closely with Graham and Unite Students to bring our plans to life.

“This marks an exciting milestone as we begin to deliver much needed, purpose-built student accommodation right on the University’s doorstep, alongside new health, wellbeing and retail facilities that will benefit our neighbours and strengthen our presence in the surrounding area.”

The contract is the second major student win for GRAHAM in Manchester in fairly short order.

The contractor is poised to begin the £400m redevelopment of the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus as part of a joint venture with Equitix and Derwent FM.