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Refurbishments
Creating value through asset management projects in our estate.
Creating value through asset management projects
We see great opportunity to improve resident experience by refurbishing our properties, which drives rental growth. We’re improving the environmental performance of our buildings as well as creating value across our portfolio.
These projects are typically quicker to complete than new developments and deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Our refurbishment projects
IN 2025
2025
Our former Cathedral home gets major uplift
Our Grade II listed property, that was converted from a cathedral over ten years ago, has had a £9.3 million refurbishment.
Cathedral Park, near University of Bristol's main campus, has seen 178 bedrooms and bathrooms refurbished, kitchens and all seven amenity spaces.
This includes the creation of a quiet lounge area, offering an alternative place to study, and the renovation of the old common room into a fun, vibrant games and karaoke space.
We've also refurbished the gym and laundry room, while creating a brand-new meeting room. The existing study rooms have had a complete refresh to better serve our residents' academic needs.
Our colleagues also have a brand-new office and welfare facilities.
This 19th century home boasts an impressive courtyard and keeps its distinctive historical character. The building was converted into student accommodation in 2012, preserving many original architectural features.
The property includes an Upper School attached to the main building, which provides 34 additional beds for residents.
The refurbishment improves the living experience while respecting the unique heritage of this historic building, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of modern university life.
Our Cathedral Park building in Bristol is undergoing a £1.7million improvement.
The 254-bed former cathedral, in Clifton, has had roof windows updated as part of a 10-month project.
The 19th century property is Grade II listed and has scaffolding erected around the whole building, which took four months. There is a temporary roof structure while four Velux windows in each studio flat are being replaced. New windows include a remote-control feature.
The building includes generous study space, a gym and impressive courtyard. There is also an Upper School – with 34 beds for residents – attached to the property.
A full refurbishment of Cathedral Park is planned for later this year (2024). The building was converted from a cathedral into Unite Students accommodation in 2012.
Hannah Wragby, Regional Project Manager at Unite Students, said:
“We are currently updating a number of Velux windows located on the top floor of the main cathedral building.
“Cathedral Park is my favourite property in the Unite Students portfolio. It’s such a unique building and I think it offers our students something completely different to the norm.”
2024
Improving our former cathedral property
Our Cathedral Park building in Bristol is undergoing a £1.7million improvement. The 254-bed former cathedral, in Clifton, has had roof windows updated as part of a 10-month project.
The 19th century property is Grade II listed and has scaffolding erected around the whole building, which took four months. There is a temporary roof structure while four Velux windows in each studio flat are being replaced. New windows include a remote-control feature.
Our Cathedral Park building in Bristol is undergoing a £1.7million improvement.
The 254-bed former cathedral, in Clifton, has had roof windows updated as part of a 10-month project.
The 19th century property is Grade II listed and has scaffolding erected around the whole building, which took four months. There is a temporary roof structure while four Velux windows in each studio flat are being replaced. New windows include a remote-control feature.
The building includes generous study space, a gym and impressive courtyard. There is also an Upper School – with 34 beds for residents – attached to the property.
A full refurbishment of Cathedral Park is planned for later this year (2024). The building was converted from a cathedral into Unite Students accommodation in 2012.
Hannah Wragby, Regional Project Manager at Unite Students, said:
“We are currently updating a number of Velux windows located on the top floor of the main cathedral building.
“Cathedral Park is my favourite property in the Unite Students portfolio. It’s such a unique building and I think it offers our students something completely different to the norm.”
2024
£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 projects, which will complete this year, will see improvements to student bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, common areas, as well as enhancements to improve the environmental performance of the buildings.
2024
Enhancing Rushford Court, Durham
In partnership with Durham University, the project will improve and extend the 358-bedroom building, and a two-storey amenity hub will be built. Rushford Court will be a temporary college from September next year before the intention is that it will become the university's 18th college.
Completed projects
Refurbishing major London property
The £1.5 million refurbishment project of our Stratford ONE property in East London includes a raft of improvements focussed on the needs of our students.
Upgrades were completed to the reception, mezzanine and podium level, and our sky room on the 26th floor.
The £1.5 million refurbishment project of our Stratford ONE property in East London includes a raft of improvements focussed on the needs of our students.
Updates have been made to the ground and near-top levels of our 28-storey Stratford ONE property, next to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The building, on International Way, is home to more than 1,000 students and is part of the legacy of the 2012 Olympics.
Upgrades were completed to the reception, mezzanine and podium level, and our sky room on the 26th floor.
After discussions with our students, it came to light that study space away from their rooms was sought after. Also, purpose-built social space.
We listened to our students and delivered! On the mezzanine level, we created a new movie room. This is equipped with a 100inch screen, cinema sofa seating with raised levels and mood lighting.
We also installed a karaoke room – with dimmed disco lighting, soundproofed walls and upgraded speakers – a gym with the latest equipment, and gaming area – also with a 4k screen. The second part of our mezzanine level has been created for students to relax and socialise, with study booths and dedicated rooms for group work. We have created four mini booths to hold up to three people and four big rooms to accommodate up to 10 in each for group work. Six open booths have been created to provide additional study space.
The podium has sectioned booths for socialising, and there is table tennis and pool. There are three study sheds on our podium terrace. Three areas have been created with plenty of seating, with dimmed colours and suitable lighting for the perfect ambience for students to feel at home.
Floors 23, 24 and 25 have been fitted out to create a more functional and attractive place to study – including the Sky Lounge, with panoramic views of the capital’s skyline. There are additional booths for group study, single booths for quiet study and large tables with comfy seating to cater for all, with their own lighting options and multiple data and electricity points for laptops and gadgets.
The refurbishment took place over 10 weeks last year and students were able to remain living in the building.
£65million refurbishment of three properties in Manchester
Refurbishment of three properties in Manchester – Parkway Gate, Kincardine Court and New Medlock House – was completed in time for start of 2022/23 academic year.
The £65 million project saw the addition of 137 new bedrooms, and improved sustainability throughout, including installation of air source heat pumps as well as the buildings benefiting from new social spaces, karaoke rooms, cinema rooms and gyms.
£9.4million refurbishment of one of our Newcastle properties
We replaced the external façade at Manor Bank, which is home to more than 500 students, who remained living there during the works.
The project, which was completed earlier this year, includes new materials to improve the safety and look of the building, which is located on Pandon Bank near the city centre.