Unite and Newcastle University begin work on Castle Leazes student village
Student scheme gets green light for 2,009 beds by 2029.
7 January 2026
Unite Students and Newcastle University have finalised a joint venture agreement to develop 2,009 new student beds at Castle Leazes, with construction now underway following regulatory approval.
The project replaces the university’s former 1,250-bed Castle Leazes accommodation, originally built in the 1960s and recently demolished. The new purpose-built student village is set to open in two phases: 788 beds in 2028/29 and a further 1,221 in 2029/30.
The joint venture is the first of its kind in the UK to use a bespoke funding structure co-created by both partners. Unite Students will hold a 51% stake and act as developer, operator, and asset manager. Newcastle University retains 49% ownership, contributing the Castle Leazes site via a 150-year lease.
The Building Safety Regulator has granted Gateway 2 approval, allowing early works to proceed on site. The development will consist of four- to nine-storey brick-clad buildings arranged in townhouse-style clusters, designed to meet modern sustainability and safety standards.
The scheme aims to ease pressure on the city’s housing supply by providing energy-efficient, affordable student accommodation. Newcastle City Council’s planning committee cited the development’s economic benefits and its potential to support local job creation.
Key features of the project include: A range of room types to meet diverse student needs; enhanced communal areas such as social hubs, games rooms, study zones, and landscaped courtyards, and low-carbon construction methods and on-site renewable energy systems
Unite Students and Newcastle University also hold a nominations agreement covering 1,600 student beds in the city to support housing needs during construction.
Joe Lister, Chief Executive at Unite Students, said the project would “enhance the residential experience for students” while helping to “ease the shortage of student housing in the city and free up privately rented homes for local families.”
Nick Collins, Chief Financial Officer at Newcastle University, said the scheme would “significantly enhance the student experience and strengthen our ability to continue to attract talented students to Newcastle.”
