The landmark project will see around 700 new student rooms built in cluster blocks and town houses alongside a village ‘hub’ facility. The hub will act as a social space for students and feature events and wellbeing spaces, study areas and a roof-top terrace with an outdoor seating area.
The multi-million pound scheme will be delivered in partnership with Staffordshire Campus Living, a consortium formed by Hochtief PPP Solutions UK and Ireland, Plenary and Staffordshire University.
The consortium has appointed Wilmott Dixon to construct the new Student Village. The Hertfordshire headquartered construction firm has previously worked on other high-profile schemes in the higher education sector such as Kingston University Town House, University of Warwick Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building and the University of Birmingham School of Engineering.
The Student Village has been designed by architects Corstorphine and Wright, who have a track record in student residential projects across the country including The Store House in Leeds, The Oaks in Coventry and Pavilion Point in Brighton.
Pinnacle Group will support the operation of the new accommodation, working with the University.
Due for completion in 2026, the new Student Village on the University’s Leek Road site will blend contemporary and sustainable architecture with its location close to the University’s nature reserve and River Trent.
Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Staffordshire University, said: “Providing an excellent student experience is a strategic priority and the Student Village is designed to respond to what students say they want. With the full backing of our Board of Governors, we are delighted to move closer towards making a start on this project which, alongside our academic course offering and exceptional support services, will help to make us stand out in the market.
“The new student accommodation will be linked to existing study, sports and leisure facilities on our main Leek Road site via a new pedestrian footbridge. Together with other exciting developments on the University’s doorstep like the Goods Yard and Station Road transformation improvements, we anticipate that the Student Village will be a great place for our students to live.”
As part of the project, the University’s existing Clarice Cliff Court accommodation, which is home to almost 300 students, will also be refurbished to ensure that all the University’s en-suite accommodation meets the same high standards.
Ian Prescott, Managing Director of Hochtief PPP Solutions UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed for this prestigious project and are eagerly looking forward to working in partnership with the University and seeing the vision for the new Student Village realised.”
Paul Crowe, Chief Investment Officer at Plenary said: “We are excited to be collaborating with the University and our other project partners on our first project in the UK and look forward to delivering this important university asset to provide quality student housing for decades.”
Dan Doyle, Director at Willmott Dixon, said: “A large proportion of our work involves creating facilities to support the higher education sector, whether that’s for residential purposes or learnings – so we’re confident of the value that we can add here for Staffordshire University.
“There are many reasons to be excited by the plans in place and we’re driven by making the vision a reality, so that a safe, secure and inclusive environment will leave the students experiencing a true home from home.”
Alan Yakoub, Architect at Corstorphine and Wright, added: “We are thrilled with the positive outcome and approval of our proposed design for an environmentally friendly student village. The design team has collaboratively managed to create an exciting, scenic, and accessible route connecting the new village with the existing campus. This aligns with the University’s goals to maintain accessibility throughout the entire campus.”
Construction of the new Student Village will begin soon. New green spaces will be created on the site of the University’s existing accommodation, which is being demolished once the new Student Village is up and running. The former Squires View site to the East of the University’s campus will be developed as a car park, servicing the Student Village and wider University campus.