UK: Urban regeneration specialist Vita Group has drawn up plans for the former Barker & Stonehouse building and the neighbouring Strawberry House building on Leazes Park Road in Newcastle.
The proposed development includes the demolition of the Barker & Stonehouse building and the erection of a new PBSA building. Vita Group says Newcastle has an undersupply of 16,000 student beds, increasing demand on the city’s wider housing market.
The group intends to retain the old Strawberry House building, incorporating it into the designs for redevelopment, maintaining the site’s heritage despite the building not being designated.
Designed for Vita Group’s student accommodation brand Vita Student, the plans are to create 250 studio apartments supported by social and study space and a gym. An on-site operations team will deliver daily events, housekeeping, security and more. The building will create better public realm and will be created using sustainable modern methods of construction, says Vita.
Max Bielby, Vita Group chief operating officer said: “We’re delighted to share our ideas for the former Barker & Stonehouse building and look forward to meeting local residents and the wider city to talk through our proposal. Newcastle has a fantastic reputation as a great place to study, this reputation continues to draw more students’ year-on-year, creating greater demand on the city’s infrastructure, the redevelopment of this scheme could help to alleviate some of those pressures whilst adding to the city, creating a new thriving community.”
Vita Student currently has two residences in the city, Vita Student Westgate and Strawberry Place.
