The redevelopment, built by GRAHAM, will cost £530m to work on the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield campus, providing 3,300 student rooms
Aside from being the UK’s largest Passivhaus student accommodation, this project is also the largest pre-cast MMC-centred project.
It aims to have an operational energy use of half that of conventional new-build student accommodation when complete.
Passivhaus puts sustainability and health as first priority
Each room in the accommodation will feature modern amenities and the whole development will include shared social facilities such as a student bar, bookable social and study spaces, music practice rooms, and wellbeing facilities.
It is being delivered by a partnership between The University of Manchester, Equitix, GRAHAM, and Rothesay, who are providing the cornerstone funding. This partnership is making the project the world’s largest single-phase Passivhaus student accommodation development.
It is expected that the project will generate up to £250,000,000 in social return on investment, supporting the local economy, and bringing new jobs, apprenticeships, local supply chain income, business growth initiatives, employability skills, work experience, placements, and funded student activities.
The development will be delivered in phases, and the first 1,000 rooms will open in 2028. Additional accommodation and the central hub facilities will open in 2029, and everything else will open in 2030.
Minister for pensions, Torsten Bell, said: “Britain needs to get back into the business of investing in its own future, and we are supporting the building, investing and innovating that makes that happen. This significant commitment to sustainable student housing in Manchester shows how institutional investment can achieve that while delivering strong long-term outcomes for savers.”
Barra Mac Ruairí, chief property officer at the University of Manchester, said: “We are very pleased that by working in true partnership we looked for innovative solutions to opportunities and the inevitable challenges which working at such scale presents. Getting to this milestone was a tremendous endeavour. Our new Fallowfield residences are going to be among the most sustainable in the world and are designed to deliver an outstanding student experience. I’m looking forward to working with our partners as we continue to develop the site.”
Passivhaus is growing in popularity
Writing for PBC Today in February, Jon Bootland, chief executive of the Passivhaus Trust, discussed how Passivhaus is growing in the UK’s construction industry, and is being established as a trustworthy and effective way of achieving net zero.
Jon discusses everything from the Scottish Passivhaus equivalent, the GLA London Plan, Homes England guidance, and retrofitting and training.
“We strongly encourage the UK construction industry to stay ahead of the curve, by upskilling in Passivhaus to deliver low-energy, high-quality buildings,” Jon writes.
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