Places for People wins 3,300-home Manchester PBSA contract

Once complete, the University of Manchester’s £530m new-look Owens Park campus in Fallowfield is to be maintained and managed by PfP Students.

Places for People will be in charge of on-site student support and property maintenance at the 3,300-unit complex, which is being delivered by Equitix, Graham, and funder Rothesay. 

The scheme is split into five ‘neighbourhoods’ and includes communal areas such as dedicated wellbeing facilities, bookable social and study spaces, music practice rooms, and landscaped courtyards.

With planning permission and Gateway 2 approval in the bag, the first 1,000 rooms are due to open in 2028. Further phases will open in 2029 and 2030.

PfP already manages schemes across the UK in Cambridge, Glasgow, and Sheffield. Owens Park will be the firm’s first Manchester asset.

Eamonn Tierney, managing director at PfP Students, said: “This is a hugely exciting project for PfP Students and a fantastic opportunity to help shape the experience of thousands of University of Manchester students.

“Fallowfield will set a new standard for student accommodation, combining exceptional sustainability credentials with spaces designed around wellbeing, community and the needs of modern students.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with the University and our partners to make sure these outstanding new homes deliver an excellent student experience from the moment the first students arrive.”

Architect Sheppard Robson designed the scheme, and Deloitte advised on planning.

Additional consultants include Kennedy Redford, Thompson Environmental Consultants, RPS, Landscape Projects, OFR, Envision, Buro Happold, Mosart, Cundall, and Steven Lavrant Heritage Architecture.

Those interested in the plans can view the application using the reference number 142387/MO/2025 in Manchester City Council’s planning portal.