Manchester Met student housing update approved

Planning approval has been granted for the redevelopment of Cambridge Halls, a major student accommodation project led by Unite Students and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). The £390 million scheme will deliver 2,302 new student bedrooms in central Manchester, significantly increasing on-campus housing capacity.

The project, located on MMU’s All Saints campus, will replace the existing 770-bed facility with a larger, modernised development offering a range of room types, including dormitory-style units, cluster flats, and studios. The scheme is intended to meet growing demand for purpose-built student accommodation in the city, which faces a well-documented shortfall.

Phase one of construction, delivering 1,101 beds, is scheduled for completion in time for the 2029/30 academic year. Phase two will provide the remaining 1,201 beds by 2030/31. Demolition of the current building is expected to begin in early 2026.

Designed following input from local stakeholders and community feedback, the new development will also enhance the public realm. Plans include new pedestrian and cycle access through the site, improved landscaping, and spaces along Cambridge Street dedicated for community use.

On-site amenities will support student wellbeing, including a rooftop exercise area, sports pitches, and an allotment. Unite Students will serve as developer, asset manager, and operator of the completed scheme.

Simon Jones, Group Higher Education Director at Unite Students, said the scheme represents a significant step forward: “We’re coming together to create a new development that will sit proudly within the All Saints campus, help tackle Manchester’s shortage of student housing and enable the university to focus on student experience and academic excellence.”

Andrew Fallon, Chief Property Officer at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “As well as providing much needed additional purpose-built student accommodation in Manchester, right on the doorstep of our university, the development will benefit the surrounding community through new health, wellbeing, and retail offerings.”

The redevelopment supports MMU’s wider campus improvement strategy and builds on its high ranking for student experience, including a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and a top ten placement in England in the latest National Student Survey.

Unite Students is the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation and has an established presence in Manchester, where student housing demand continues to outstrip supply.