GRAHAM lands £286m contract for Manchester Met’s Cambridge Halls
Contractor appointed to deliver two-tower redevelopment under Unite Students joint venture.
18 February 2026
GRAHAM has signed a £286 million contract to deliver the redevelopment of Cambridge Halls at Manchester Metropolitan University, marking a significant milestone in one of the city’s largest student accommodation projects.
The scheme, being brought forward through a joint venture between Manchester Metropolitan University and Unite Students, will provide 2,302 new student bedrooms across two multi-storey buildings rising to up to 30 storeys.
The project involves the demolition of the existing 1990s-era accommodation and the phased construction of two high-rise buildings comprising a mix of cluster apartments and studios. The development will also incorporate internal and external amenity space, ground-floor commercial uses and a new community health centre fronting Cambridge Street, strengthening integration between the campus and the surrounding neighbourhood.
Designed by Cartwright Pickard, the buildings are targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification and will incorporate a range of low-carbon technologies and energy-efficient systems. The specification includes a highly thermally efficient building envelope, air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, low-energy heat-recovery ventilation systems and advanced intelligent building management systems to reduce operational energy demand and carbon emissions.
The appointment of GRAHAM formalises the transition from planning and pre-construction into delivery, with demolition works already underway. Main construction is scheduled to commence later this year, with phase one due for completion in 2029 and the second phase following in 2030.
Stephen Van den Hoek, regional director at GRAHAM, described the project as a “significant and complex regeneration” that will transform this part of the campus. He said the contractor would work collaboratively with the university and Unite Students to deliver high-quality, sustainable accommodation designed to support long-term performance.
The redevelopment forms part of a wider modernisation of Manchester Metropolitan’s estate and represents one of the largest purpose-built student accommodation schemes currently in delivery in the North West.
