Student Accommodation in Gloucester – Blackfriars Residences (Phase 1) 

The University of Gloucestershire commissioned an OJEU procurement for the appointment of a Strategic Estate Partner to deliver 500 beds of student accommodation over two phases, to be located in Gloucester city centre. The new accommodation was to support their planned growth and the relocation of their Business School from their campus at Cheltenham to their Gloucester Oxstalls campus.

Apeiron Developments, acting on behalf of Cityheart Ltd, successfully led the development team through the OJEU procurement process and were appointed as Strategic Estates Partner to the University.

A City Council owned surface car park at Ladybellegate Street was identified and secured on which to develop Phase 1 of the accommodation. Working closely with the Local Planning Authority, a design for 295 beds of accommodation over four buildings, together with common room, laundry and supporting facilities received unanimous support and planning approval.

Development management services provided for the project included;

• OJEU procurement/bid lead

• Appointment and management of the design team

• Co-ordination of design with client, University, Council, and multiple stakeholder groups

• Public consultation

• Compiling financial feasibility appraisal

• Reviewing financial model and sensitivity analysis

• Negotiating commercial terms and management of legal documents

• Site acquisition and securing option over adjacent land for future development

• Managing tender and appointment of main contractor

• Advising and reviewing institutional financial proposals

• Achieving Financial and Legal Close

• Financial management of drawdown facility

• Reporting to Board

• Overseeing project management during construction

• Co-ordination with operational management team

• Managing successful handover to client for commencement of academic term.

 A major achievement for the project was gaining planning approval in a key regeneration location within the city centre conservation area. The site is surrounded and immediately adjacent to 13 x Grade 1 and 2* listed and heritage assets, with an underlying Scheduled Ancient Monument and a high archaeological horizon. This required detailed coordination and liaison with local authority stakeholders to ensure the design was both sympathetic in terms of scale, massing and elevational treatment as well as minimising the civil and structural requirements on the archaeology below ground.