UoM reignites Fallowfield campus overhaul
The University of Manchester is pushing ahead with the next phase of plans to dramatically transform its Owens Park Campus, a project that involves the demolition of the site’s 1960s tower block and delivery of 3,300 new student bedspaces.
The university is offering a £7m contract, running from July 2023 to November 2024, for the demolition of the vacant student accommodation tower block and refurbishment of the existing Oak House for short-term use. In the longer term, the plan is for Oak House to be knocked down, it is understood.
Meanwhile, a refreshed outline planning application for the next phases of new-build accommodation at the Fallowfield campus is in the works and a consultation on those proposals is live.
The scheme, designed by Sheppard Robson, would see 3,300 new bedspaces brought forward, taking the total number of units at the complex to 5,400, a net increase of 950. This is an increase of around 1,000 new units compared to the previous iteration of the project, approved in 2015.
Turley is the planning consultant and the project managers are Rider Levett Bucknall and Midollo. Buro Happold is advising on the environmental impact assessment.
Dr Simon Merrywest, director for student experience at the University of Manchester said: “The proposals for the redevelopment of this area of the Fallowfield campus will strengthen the university’s ability to offer a world-class, supportive student experience in well-located, good value, quality accommodation.
“This redevelopment provides an opportunity to widen the choice and supply of student bedrooms whilst ensuring they are fulfilling the requirements of future students studying at the university.”
The redevelopment of the student accommodation complex has been in the works for some time.
So far, around 1,100 new student beds have been delivered on vacant land on the corner of Gunnery Lane and Chancellors Way – a project finished off by Vinci after former contractor Carillion went bust.
However, the replacement of existing outdated stock has stalled since the first phase completed in 2019.
Consent for the BDP-designed redevelopment of the site was granted in 2015.
This first iteration of the Owens Park overhaul proposed the demolition of 2,200 outdated student bedrooms – including the 1960s tower block – and delivery of 3,000 modern bedspaces.
At this time, the University of Manchester was working with Abu Dhabi investor Mubadala Development Company. However, in 2016, the parties went their separate ways, prompting a rethink over how the project would proceed.
The delivery of modern PBSA in Fallowfield aligns with the Manchester City Council’s aim to free up housing in the area for families in a bid to increase council tax receipts, from which students are exempt.
At a recent Place North West event, experts discussed how universities are evolving to meet the needs of students.
It’s a shame Fallowfield and Withington have declined so much, where is Manchester’s Headingley, Manchester’s Jesmond?
By DH
The Council needs to ensure that both Withington and Fallowfield have a sustainable future – of the two neighbourhoods Fallowfield is the one to worry about as there is no plan.
By Anonymous
Hopefully this will rejuvenate the Fallowfield area. When I was a student living there the area was a busling, friendly, lively hub, now it doesn’t feel safe or lively at all. Hopefully the new accommodation, which is desperately needed to replace the run down stock, will help regenerate the area.
By MC
I think there’s a fundamental misunderstanding by MCC about adding PBSA. It won’t solve the council revenue issue and is likely to make it worse without serious joined up thinking. All these measures will do is increase the number of first year students the university can admit and wont be inclusive of a sizable number of international students living in private halls. This larger cohort of first years will then seek private accommodation as happens now and create more HMOs all of which will eat into council tax revenue. If this was a serious proposal about rehoming and retaining all university students then it would they would need to triple housing stock – likely even more to accommodate longer programmes like medicine and architecture. As it is only proposing a fractional increase all this be used for housing new students and won’t do anything to achieve MCC’s objectives. Data that needs to be looked at by the council is the number of university places being offered year on year on year to asses this. All that aside the area is in dire need of a facelift and the Fallowfield campus is visually oppressive so good luck to them, just be sceptical of how much good it will do for the community.
By H
I have no issue with the student population, but to echo other comments there are concerning undercurrents. For instance, young men in SUVs sucking on balloons before flooring it away up the road, leaving their litter behind. Often they’re the ones harassing undergrads who live there.
This may a bit off topic, but friends who rent around Chorlton generally look to Stretford or Trafford (or even Levenshulme) when looking for somewhere more affordable to buy. Despite the convenient location Fallowfield isn’t on the radar, and I agree with other comments that more PBSA won’t solve that problem.
By Anon
Still feel they could have refurbished the Owen’s Park tower. It is perfectly serviceable and they are pulling it down just as it is beginning to be appreciated/fashionable. We need to be reusing and recycling not creating more waste. This is all about MONEY and not education -packing 3000 people in there to squeeze as much out as possible.
By rasengan
Good value accommodation, says Dr. Merrywest? The university have been ripping off the students for years in Fallowfield. All they are doing is refurbing Oak House, built decades ago. They will be in no rush to knock it down once its refurbished. International students do not want to live in Fallowfield.
By Dr B Jones
In 2014 the Mubadala Development Company announced an investment of approximately £175m in the Fallowfield site. They pulled out of the deal, and 9 years later The University is only investing £7m? It is not enough to bring these rotting accommodation blocks up to standard. This is a poor plan for students and offers very little to the wider community of Fallowfield.
By M Clarck