UK: Fresh, the management arm of Watkin Jones, has been appointed to lease up and manage a 367-unit PBSA property on behalf of UBS at Glassworks, Bristol.
Set to open in January 2025, Glassworks will be the sixth property Fresh manages on behalf of UBS AM’s Real Estate & Private Markets business (UBS AM REPM) in addition to Belfast, Durham, London, Nottingham and Newcastle.
Alongside property management, UBS AM REPM used Fresh’s brand advisory service to create a brand identity and motif for the Glassworks property “to encompass the lively and artistic personality of Bristol and its students”. This will be reflected through the signage and design of the property.
The property will consist of a total of 367 units including 117 cluster, 206 studio and 44 twodio apartments. Located in Redcliff near Bristol Temple Meads Train Station, Glassworks will offer residents amenities such as a cinema, yoga room, gym, study room, social spaces, a games area and a zen garden. The property will host Fresh’s Be Programme, which offers residents a wellbeing and social programme, with clubs and experiences to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and encouragement to engage with the wider community.
Glassworks will also be home to a new artist residency programme called Confluence which will contain a space for local artists to showcase multisensory responses to the changing city that is Bristol.
Eddie Kane, head of division (South) at Fresh, said: “I am pleased to announce that Fresh has grown its relationship with UBS AM REPM by adding Glassworks in Bristol on top of the five other properties managed on their behalf. Fresh creates a thriving environment for its residents and the Confluence artist residency program will encourage our residents to unleash their creativity. Fresh has a great track record of resident engagement and wellbeing through our Be Wellbeing Programme and this latest agreement signals Fresh’s growing presence across the country and its commitment to providing residents an excellent student accommodation experience in the thriving student city of Bristol.”
Oliver Abram, portfolio manager at UBS AM REPM, added: “Bristol is a vibrant city with a significant and growing student population, which is experiencing a shortage of high-quality student accommodation, and we are pleased to be delivering Glassworks in January 2025. We look forward to working with Fresh who will be managing this asset on our behalf.”
