Work Underway on 303-bed Scheme in York

GMI Construction Group has commenced work on a 303-bed student accommodation project in James Street, York.

The £22m contract for the construction of the building was awarded to GMI after S Harrison Developments, based in York, obtained the green light for student use in 2022.

The project benefits from a forward-funding agreement between the developer and Q Investment Partners (QIP), who are based out of Singapore.

The development is currently eyeing a completion date of spring 2025 and is aiming to address the shortage of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in the city.

The site, which is situated just off Lawrence Street, is in close proximity to both of the city's universities.

The four-storey construction will house 108 individual studio rooms alongside 195 cluster bedrooms.

The ground floor of the building will include a number of student amenities such as a cinema, shared working spaces, a gym, a laundry room, and a reception/common room area. External works will encompass parking spaces and a cycle store.

The design, created by CSP Architects of York, features landscaped areas including a pocket park on the southeast area of the site.

A section of land along James Street will be designated as a highway, creating a 3.5-metre-wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The site previously housed an accident repair centre operated by Alton Cars, which has since relocated to larger 22,000 sq. ft premises at The Airfield Industrial Estate, Elvington.

Upon completion, the development will be managed by student accommodation specialists Homes for Students under their Prestige Student Living brand.

Andrew Hurcomb, GMI's Divisional Managing Director for Yorkshire, stated: "GMI has a strong track record of delivering student accommodation across the North of England and the Midlands.

"The James Street development is in an ideal location given its within walking distance of two universities and will help York confirm its position as a top study destination by expanding the range of quality facilities available for students."

Martyn Harrison from S Harrison commented: "We have been headquartered in York for over 70 years and have successfully designed and delivered many successful PBSA schemes in York, Leeds and Edinburgh in recent years, totalling thousands of bedrooms.

"Our ability to create exceptional developments in highly sought-after locations means we have strong relationships with many leading PBSA and institutional investors, both in the UK and globally, and we're very pleased to agree our first deal with QIP.

"High quality PBSA is in real demand in York, especially for schemes like this one, which is so close to both the University of York and York St John University. When this is combined with our local knowledge and QIP's experience in the sector, there's no doubt this development will prove to be very popular with the city's student population."