A new high-rise student accommodation is underway in Bristol’s city centre, set to become its tallest building.
- The new building will surpass the Castle Park View record with a planned height of 28 storeys.
- Cain International has acquired the site and plans with Olympian Homes for an ambitious development next to the Bearpit roundabout.
- Expected amenities include over 15,000 sq ft of communal facilities, enhancing student living conditions.
- The project aims to complete by the 2028-29 academic year, addressing the student accommodation shortfall.
A new student accommodation block is on the horizon for Bristol, promising to transform its skyline as the city’s tallest edifice. The 28-storey building, poised to eclipse the Castle Park View’s 98.37 metres, has been procured by Cain International. Plans, articulated in conjunction with Olympian Homes, will see the redevelopment of a former 1970s Premier Inn site near the Bearpit roundabout. The cost of acquisition remains undisclosed, indicating strategic corporate discretion in financial dealings.
Collaboratively, Cain International and Olympian Homes envision the construction of two towers. One will house 442 beds and the other will comprise 132 co-living units, alongside 15,000 sq ft of vital amenity space. Noteworthy features include a cinema room, fitness centre, study areas, a games room, and communal dining sections, thus redefining modern student living experiences. The development is strategically located, enhancing logistical convenience for its inhabitants.
RG Group has been appointed to steer the project’s delivery. Oliver Cummings, leading the PBSA division at Cain, remarked on the central location’s appeal, highlighting potent transport links and the venture’s alignment with their broader strategy in Russell Group university cities. James Lindridge from Olympian expressed gratitude towards Bristol City Council for facilitating the planning process, a crucial step towards the project’s fruition.
Planning consent was secured despite notable opposition, with concerns centred on the building’s height and its adjacency to a Grade-I listed church. However, the council’s development control A committee granted approval. This decision underscores a prioritisation of urban growth and housing solutions over aesthetic conservatism. Olympian Homes’ Mark Slatter defended the project’s ambition, pointing to prospective architectural elegance and the alleviation of housing pressures.
The venture solidifies Cain’s PBSA equity portfolio, projecting a gross development value nearing £800 million. Olympian’s CEO, Richard Simpson, cited a robust track record of urban development partnerships as a key success factor. Overall, this high-profile project forms a cornerstone in Bristol’s urban regeneration strategy, aspiring to meet burgeoning student accommodation demands while contributing to the city’s architectural evolution.
The development of Bristol’s tallest building signifies a pivotal move towards addressing urban student accommodation needs while enhancing the city’s architectural landscape.
