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Unite Students invites applications for lease of new community space in Tower Hamlets, London

28 March 2022

  • Opportunity for not-for-profit and community sector organisations to lease space (663m2) at Unite Students’ new Middlesex Street development in Aldgate, London
  • Space will be available at peppercorn rent of £1,000 a year and has been created as part of a planning agreement between Unite Students and Tower Hamlets Council
  • Community space available for activities complementary to site’s heritage – a former Shakespearean-era playhouse

 Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of purpose-built student accommodation, has opened applications for the lease and management of a new community space at its Middlesex Street development in Tower Hamlets – a prime London location.

It is hoped the new community space will be utilised sympathetic to the site’s heritage – a former Shakespearean-era playhouse.

The D1 Community Space will be available at significantly reduced rent of just £1,000 per year. Application is open to not-for-profit and community sector organisations whose activity will directly benefit and engage the local community – through performances, exhibitions or local hire, for example. The use of the space will also need to include engagement with local schools and education providers.

The space available to rent is in Unite Students’ new Middlesex Street development, which will provide living accommodation for 920 students when it opens before the beginning of the 2022/23 academic year.  The community space will be independently managed by the successful applicant and is made up of 430 sq metres of double-height exhibition/performance space, 120 sq metres of office/incubator space and 113 sq metres of additional space.

The development sits on the former location of the Boar’s Head Playhouse, a Shakespearean-era site, with a long and significant theatrical history. The remains of the site, which have been carefully excavated by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), will be preserved in-situ within the footprint of the new Unite Students’ development.

The space will be awarded through a tender process and the chosen tenant organisation will be able to lease the fully fitted-out and furnished space at just £1,000 per annum on a three-year lease. Applications can be submitted by a group of organisations wishing to use the space as a collective, or stand-alone organisations. Applications need to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 8 April 2022. There will be an open viewing of premises on Wednesday 30th March between 2-6pm.

For full details of the offer, tender process and how to apply, please visit the Unite Group website here.

Ali Baeta, Social Impact Manager at Unite Students, said:

“Being located in the heart of local communities, we take great pride in helping community organisations. We hope this space in Tower Hamlets will facilitate the scale-up of one, or more, valuable community organisations, whilst simultaneously paying tribute to the site’s rich history.”

“We are incredibly excited to open applications and hope this will bring real tangible benefits to local residents and education providers, as well as our students.”

“We look forward to meeting applicants and encourage all to attend our viewing later this month to find out more.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Unite Students

Unite press office                                                                  Tel: +44 117 450 6300

 

About Unite Students

Unite Students is the UK’s largest owner, manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation, serving the country’s world-leading Higher Education sector. We provide homes to 73,000 students across 172 properties in 25 leading University towns and cities. We currently partner with over 60 Universities across the UK.

Our people are driven by a common purpose: to provide a ‘Home for Success’ for the students who live with us. Unite’s accommodation is safe and secure, high quality and affordable.

We are committed to raising standards in the student accommodation sector for our customers, investors and employees. This is why our new Sustainability Strategy, launched in 2021, includes a commitment to become net zero carbon across our operations and developments by 2030.

For more information, visit:

Unite’s corporate website www.unite-group.co.uk

The student site www.unitestudents.com