Unite Students reveals £24million upgrade to three properties

• The investment is being made at Station Court in London, Oak Brook Park in Birmingham, and Bridge House in Edinburgh
• The refurbishments cover bedrooms, kitchens, living spaces, reception areas and the creation of new amenity spaces
• Works will result in a better student experience at all three properties, with energy control systems and other environmental improvements at the forefront of the projects

Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation, today reveals a £24million refurbishment scheme across three of its UK properties – Station Court in London, Oak Brook Park in Birmingham, and Bridge House in Edinburgh.

The projects, which will be completed this year, will see improvements to student bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, common areas, as well as enhance the environmental performance of the buildings. The updates have been designed to improve the overall student experience and include new social and study spaces.

In September, Station Court, Tottenham, North London, will see full refurbishment of all kitchens and bedrooms, as well as work to its bathrooms. The £5.7million project will also see enhancements to the entrance area, incorporating a new reception and increased amenity, including flexible study areas and social spaces enhancing the student experience. Solar panels are being installed to generate renewable electricity on site, along with smart controls on hot water and heating systems as part of measures to help Unite Students realise its aim to be net zero carbon across its operations and developments by 2030. All accommodation work at the 225-bed property, close to Seven Sisters station, will complete by the end of 2023. The new amenity space will follow in early 2024.

Work at Oak Brook Park, Selly Oak, Birmingham, is underway and will be carried out in two phases. The first phase is a £9.2million project, which will include a full refurbishment of the property’s reception, kitchens, 375 bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. Solar panels will be installed, alongside LED lighting, and new heating and hot water cylinders using an advanced smart control system to optimise energy performance. Work will complete in time for the start of the 2023/24 academic year. The second phase of work, to the 281-bed block situated across the road, is due to take place in 2024.

The £9.1million project at 319-bed Bridge House, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, has also commenced and includes new kitchens, bedrooms, and shared bathrooms. An extra shower room will also be installed in every flat. The students will also benefit from the creation of a new reception entrance, additional study spaces, a cinema room and other social spaces. Smart-controlled hot water cylinders will help cut energy use, alongside upgrades to the building fabric including cladding improvements, new external render, plus a full window replacement. The work will be completed by the start of the 2023/24 academic year, transforming the building both internally and externally.

Claire Barber, Asset Management Director, Unite Students, said:

“The refurbishment projects announced today are key to enhancing the student experience and will also make a significant contribution towards Unite Students’ goal of net zero carbon across its operations and developments by 2030. We’ve placed particular emphasis on spaces for residents to interact and study – which will make a real difference to day-to-day student living in these key locations. These refurbishments follow on from major works carried out in Manchester last year and highlight our continued commitment to providing students with a Home for Success.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Please see the three images, attached, of interiors after the refurbishment.

For further information, please contact Unite Students press office on 0117 4506300 or email: press.office@unitestudents.com

About Unite Students

Unite Students is the UK’s largest owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) serving the country’s world-leading higher education sector. We provide homes to 70,000 students across 157 properties in 23 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 Students’ accommodation is safe and secure, high quality, and affordable. Students live predominantly in en-suite study bedrooms with rents covering all bills, insurance, 24-hour security and high-speed Wi-Fi. We also achieved a five-star British Safety Council rating in our last audit.

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.

Founded in 1991 in Bristol, the Unite Group is an award-winning Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit Unite Group’s corporate website www.unitegroup.com or the Unite Students’ site www.unitestudents.com