UK: Unite Students has refurbished 11 of its PBSA assets this year, benefitting 5,239 residents.
The refurbishments have a total cost of £32 million and are part of Unite Students’ growing refurbishment programme. This includes an annual spend of £50 to £75million over the next five years. The company has a development and asset management pipeline that stands at a record £1.5 billion.
Stapleton House, in North London, has undergone a £1.5 million refurbishment of its amenity spaces, which now include an impressive new reception area, study and social areas. The 862-bed property, home to University College London students, also has a common room and a private outdoor courtyard.
In Liverpool, 102-bed Cedar House, in Knowledge Quarter and part of Unite Students’ Student Village with more than 1,000 students, underwent a full refurbishment of bedrooms, bathrooms and amenity spaces, costing £2.6 million.
Thurso Street, in Glasgow, has 405-beds and also had a full refurbishment. Opposite the University of Glasgow campus in the West End, the property had £8 million spent on improvements and has a spacious common room and communal study space.
Other refurbishment projects include Angel Lane, North Lodge, Olympic Way and Station Court in London; Rosalind Franklin in Portsmouth; Oak Brook Park in Birmingham; Rushford Court in Durham and Kyle Park House in Glasgow.
Joe Lister, Unite Students chief executive, said: “We are proud of the investment into these properties, which reaffirms our commitment to provide high quality, affordable accommodation that offers a Home for Success for the talented residents who live with us. These high standards provide an environment for our residents to thrive and we will be investing in our properties as part of our portfolio improvement programme, and record development pipeline, also helping to meet rising student demand while easing housing shortages by freeing up existing homes for local families.”
