Cambridge Halls moves into construction

Unite Students and Manchester Metropolitan University have started main construction on the redevelopment of Cambridge Halls after securing Building Safety Regulator approval for the first phase of the 2,302-bed student accommodation scheme.

Demolition of the university's former 770-bed Cambridge Halls has been completed and structural groundworks are now underway on the city-centre campus.

The development will be delivered in two phases, substantially increasing the amount of student accommodation provided on the site.

The first phase will contain 1,101 beds and has now received Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator, allowing construction to proceed. It is scheduled to open for the beginning of the 2029/30 academic year.

A second phase comprising 1,201 beds is expected to open for the following academic year.

The redevelopment is being delivered through a partnership between Unite Students and Manchester Metropolitan University, which has around 44,000 students.

Manchester Metropolitan has taken a 30% ownership stake in the joint venture and contributed the value of its land to the partnership.

The structure allows the university to retain capital for investment elsewhere in its campus masterplan, including a new purpose-built, digitally enabled library.

Cambridge Halls will provide a mixture of cluster flats, studios and postgraduate accommodation designed to cater for different student requirements and budgets.

Plans also include a large communal kitchen and dining floor, rooftop exercise space and sports pitches, alongside shared public areas intended to serve the wider community.

Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said: “This is another major milestone in the redevelopment of Cambridge Halls and our exciting partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.

“We began the demolition of the former Cambridge Halls accommodation just seven months after agreeing the joint venture framework and are pleased to be able to move to the next phase of development.

“Purpose-built student accommodation is fundamental to the UK’s higher education sector, and this partnership demonstrates the real benefits such collaborations can deliver for students, universities and local communities.”

The project forms part of Manchester Metropolitan's wider programme of investment in its city-centre estate and will significantly increase the number of students that can be accommodated on campus.

The replacement of 770 existing beds with 2,302 new places represents a net increase of more than 1,500 beds once both phases are completed.

The partnership model also provides an example of universities working with specialist accommodation operators to deliver major residential projects while retaining capital for other estate priorities.

For Unite Students, the scheme adds a substantial university-backed development to its pipeline, with the accommodation designed around the requirements of Manchester Metropolitan students.

Andrew Fallon, Chief Property Officer at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “It is exciting to reach another milestone in the continuing development of our city-centre campus.

“Working alongside Unite Students, Cambridge Halls will deliver next-generation student living at the heart of our university with enhanced shared public areas that will benefit our wider community.

“We look forward to seeing the scheme progress as we deliver on our commitment to delivering an outstanding student experience.”

With Gateway 2 approval secured for the first phase, construction will now progress towards the initial 1,101 beds becoming operational in 2029.