Pinsent Masons advises University of Manchester on landmark student accommodation redevelopment

The redevelopment will transform part of the University's iconic Fallowfield campus, including Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall, delivering approximately 3,330 modern student bedrooms as part of a major regeneration programme. The project is the world’s largest single-phase Passivhaus student accommodation development and forms a key part of the University's wider estate and growth strategy.

Pinsent Masons provided the University with a multidisciplinary offering spanning property, planning, construction, projects, finance and corporate matters, including advice relating to the University's equity stake in the project special purpose vehicle.The Pinsent Masons team was led by partners Victoria Goddard and Chris Owens, supported by Pav Bhullar, Francesca Knight, Louise Blair, Stuart Barr, James McDonald, Alison Groat and Gillian Frew.

Barra Mac Ruairí, Chief Property Officer at The University of Manchester said: “This redevelopment reflects our commitment to providing high-quality accommodation for our students. It will enable us to provide modern, high-quality accommodation that supports the needs of current and future students, while creating sustainable, welcoming places where students can live, study and socialise."

Chris Owens, Partner at Pinsent Masons, said: "There is significant demand for modern and affordable student accommodation in Manchester, and we are delighted to have worked with the University on a project that will help meet that demand. As the largest student accommodation DBFO project ever undertaken by a UK university, it represents a major milestone for both the University and the wider higher education sector."

Victoria Goddard, Partner at Pinsent Masons, said: "This project shows how universities can work with private sector partners to deliver large scale accommodation developments while continuing to focus their resources on their core academic and research priorities. Given the challenges facing the higher education sector, we expect more institutions to explore similar models as they look to modernise their estates and improve the student experience."

Pinsent Masons has extensive experience advising universities on student accommodation and campus infrastructure projects and was recognised as Property Week's Student Accommodation Legal Team of the Year four times in the last six years.