UK: Canada Life Asset Management has been granted planning consent for a PBSA scheme, in partnership with the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE).
The scheme will be close to UWE’s Frenchay campus, and will include 330 student bedrooms. Bowmer and Kirkland has been selected as the main contractor and works are due to start in Q3 2024. The building will rise from five to nine storeys in a spiralling pattern, arranged around a central courtyard which includes communal and study spaces.
The landscaped courtyard is designed to act as the social heart of the scheme and provide outdoor recreational space. Plans also include planting and soft landscaping aimed at creating habitats for local wildlife to help achieve Biodiversity Net Gain.
The scheme sets out to be highly sustainable, targeting EPC A, WiredScore Platinum and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ as a minimum, and aspiring to be net zero carbon in operation.
The development is led by JLL, Canada Life Asset Management’s development and project manager.
James Ogborne, asset manager at Canada Life Asset Management, said: “I am delighted that we have managed to achieve planning for this fantastic scheme and we are looking forward to starting on site. Being so close to UWE’s Frenchay Campus, the site in Filton is an ideal location to develop first class accommodation for students to live and study. We have worked tirelessly with the University to achieve this great outcome.”
William Liew, chief financial officer at UWE. Added: “Working closely with Canada Life and JLL, we are very excited to have landed the University’s first partnership agreement on student accommodation. The development will be part of the UWE accommodation portfolio around the Frenchay Campus, offering a high standard of living at an affordable rental level”.
The scheme will follow UWE’s recently completed 900-bed Purdown View development, which will be fully occupied for the next academic year starting in September. Purdown View has received Passivhaus certification and will reduce energy use by a claimed 81 per cent and carbon by 79 per cent per room compared with the accommodation it replaced.
