Student Castle Latest News. http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/ Copyright, Student Castle Berkeley First sells City student accommodation development to Student Castle in sector?s largest forward commitment. Leading developers Berkeley First and Student Castle have exchanged contracts for the turnkey sale of a 617-bedroom student accommodation development in Central London. The deal, which reflects a forward commitment in excess of £80m to acquire the completed scheme in the summer of 2013, is the sector’s largest transaction in recent years. Goodman’s Fields will be Student Castle’s flagship scheme offering premium accommodation to students in Central London. Located just minutes from Tower Bridge and Liverpool Street in Zone 1, Goodman’s Fields is on the doorstep of the City of London. The striking 10-storey student accommodation building offers a variety of apartment types and sizes, including cluster flats, en-suite bedrooms and studio apartments. It has been designed with exceptional quality in mind and will feature high gloss furniture, stone kitchen worktops, flat screen TVs, high speed wireless internet, larger rooms and beds, swipe card entry, CCTV and comfort cooling. A strong focus has been placed on sustainability at Goodman’s Fields; smart meters are fitted to all rooms and the BREEAM Excellent rated building has a green roof and Combined Heating and Power (CHP) system. The building also boasts its own open plan lobby, reception and student lounge, residents’ gym, laundry, cycle store, secure landscaped courtyard area and a management suite including meeting rooms, breakout areas, and kitchen and staff facilities. Goodman’s Fields is within easy reach of some of the leading universities and colleges in London including LSE, Kings College London, Imperial College London, UCL, City University, London Met and Queen Mary University. The development forms part of a luxury mixed use regeneration scheme by the Berkeley Group. The wider scheme will include 754 residential units, a 337 bed hotel and 11,000 sqft of mixed retail space. Edward Cade, CEO of Student Castle comments, ‘The quality and positioning of Berkeley First’s Goodman’s Fields scheme directly complements our corporate ethos and intention to change the perception of traditional private student accommodation through the provision of premium living environments. The purchase of this 617-bed scheme gives us targeted exposure to the London market, directly in line with our development objectives, and delivers further strength and depth to our portfolio. We are excited about combining our own expertise as one of the UK’s leading student accommodation developers with Berkeley First’s strong track record to introduce this flagship City scheme.’ Matthew Biddle, Managing Director of Berkeley First comments, ’we are delighted to be partnering with Student Castle to deliver this exciting City Centre development. We worked hard to fully maximise the scheme, which included changes to the original planning consent to ensure the building was suited to the needs of the London market. This is reflected in the particular focus that has been placed on improving the proportion of high quality cluster accommodation at Goodman’s Fields.’ http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=8&year=2012 http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=8&year=2012 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:00 GMT 33-storey student tower gets green light from council planners Manchester City Council has granted planning permission for a 33-storey residential tower in the city centre. "From the CGIs it has that built in slices Rockefeller Centre appearance that creates variety in what could otherwise be an inverted shoe-box design." Developer Student Castle and its contractor partner Shepherd Construction will build the 520-bed high rise on Great Marlborough Street, which will be used for student accommodation. The 33-storey tower, measuring 109 metres, is expected to cost around £45m and will be among the city’s tallest buildings. It has been designed by Manchester-based Hodder and Partners. The rooms will be a mix of self-contained studio apartments and cluster-style communal accommodation. Edward Cade, chief executive of Student Castle, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded planning permission for this landmark scheme in Manchester. “As a new, expert developer within the sector we are pleased to have this opportunity to make a positive contribution to the regional economy and higher education sector in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.” The development is due for completion in 2012. Student Castle will become the third or fourth tallest tower in Manchester depending whether you count radio antennae. The order will be: 168.87m (554ft) Beetham Tower 118m (387ft) CIS Tower 109m (357ft) Student Castle 107m (351ft) City Tower, Piccadilly - although to the top of the radio antenna mast City Tower is 123m (404ft). So does Student Castle look any good? The answer is a qualified yes. Qualified, because you never really know until the thing is up creating wind tunnels of the streets all around. From the CGIs it has that built in slices Rockefeller Centre appearance that creates variety in what could otherwise be an inverted shoe-box design. Hodder and Partners after all are careful designers and it seems they wanted to produce something distinctive for the Manchester skyline. This could be a very good building and points to a potential construction frenzy in the area, what with the new Holiday Inn coming to completion, more projects planned for First Street and the vast site of New Broadcasting House about to be vacated by the BBC. The only pause for thought over the design is the way it will be jammed into a very small site at the junction of New Wakefield Street and Great Marlborough Street. That might look awkward when studying it close by. Then again given the arbitrary nature of British cityscapes - their triumphant and messy variety of styles - it may fit well. It's very welcome to see towers rising once more. Every city needs a phallic symbol or two climbing into the air to make it feel good about itself. Makes us all feel more potent. Published: http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Culture/Architecture/New-skyscraper-planned-for-Manchester_11861.asp http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=7&year=2010 http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=7&year=2010 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:00 GMT Property developer Student Castle has been granted permission to build a 33-storey block of flats in Manchester. Property developer Student Castle has been granted permission to build a 33-storey block of flats in Manchester. The firm, backed by Carphone Warehouse founder Charles Dunstone, will create 520 student bedsits in Great Marlborough Street in a tower which will feature communal accommodation. It is scheduled for completion in 2012. Student Castle chief Edward Cade said: "We are delighted to have been awarded planning permission for this landmark scheme in Manchester. As a new, expert developer within the sector we are pleased to have this opportunity to make a positive contribution to the regional economy and higher education sector in one of the UK's most vibrant cities." Mr Dunstone and Carphone Warehouse CEO Roger Taylor provide funds for Student Castle, which is run by Mr Cade and Jacqui Hawthorn. Mr Cade said: "At Student Castle we are committed to changing the perception of traditional private student accommodation by meeting 21st century student aspiration, with a focus on delivering high quality, affordable homes for students." The firm is currently working on a similar bedsit project in Newcastle which is due to open next year and has been designed by Hodder + Partners. Copyright Press Association 2010 http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=6&year=2010 http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=6&year=2010 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:00 GMT Manchester City Council has granted full planning permission for a 33-storey residential tower in the city centre. £ Manchester City Council has granted full planning permission for a 33-storey residential tower in the city centre. The decision gives Shepherd Construction the green light to start on the 520-bed high rise, which is expected to cost around £45m and be the second tallest building in Manchester after the Beetham Tower. The project team on the Great Marlborough Scheme includes Canmoor Projects, Shepherd  and regional building consultants Edmund Kirby, WSP and Brentwood Design Group. When finished the building will accommodate students in a mix of self-contained studio apartments and cluster-style communal accommodation. Edward Cade, chief executive of Student Castle, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded planning permission for this landmark scheme in Manchester. “As a new, expert developer within the sector we are pleased to have this opportunity to make a positive contribution to the regional economy and higher education sector in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.” Student Castle said it is also currently targeting London, Bath, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle, Oxford and York for student accommodation developments. Hodder + Partners are architects and lead consultants for the development. The development is due for completion in 2012. Publication: http://www.constructionenquirer.com/contract-spy/major-project-leads/ http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=2&year=2010 http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=2&year=2010 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:00 GMT Start-up student accommodation developer Student Castle has been granted planning permission for a new 33-storey residential tower in Great Marlborough Street, Manchester. Start-up student accommodation developer Student Castle has been granted planning permission for a new 33-storey residential tower in Great Marlborough Street, Manchester. The £45m scheme includes 520-beds and will be the second tallest building in Manchester after the Beetham Tower. It will accommodate undergraduate students, postgraduates and international students and include a mix of self-contained studio apartments and cluster-style communal accommodation. Edward Cade, chief executive of Student Castle, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded planning permission for this landmark scheme in Manchester. "As a new, expert developer within the sector we are pleased to have this opportunity to make a positive contribution to the regional economy and higher education sector in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities." Hodder + Partners are architects and lead consultants for the development. Drivers Jonas Deloitte acted as planning consultants. The wider project team on the Great Marlborough Scheme includes Canmoor Projects, Shepherd Construction and regional Building Consultants Edmund Kirby, WSP and Brentwood Design Group. The development is due for completion in 2012. Publication: EGi http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=5&year=2010 http://www.studentcastle.co.uk/word.php?pid=5&year=2010 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00 GMT