£20m student scheme will revive former churchyard

LIVERPOOL developer Iliad Group is to soon begin work on a £20m high-specification pre-let student scheme in the city.

The St Michael’s student development of 261 rooms, will regenerate a derelict former churchyard within the Ropewalks area of the city, near Iliad’s East Village scheme.

Forward-let to the charity Cosmopolitan Student Homes, the development comprises of 225 flats of four, five and en-suite rooms, clustered around a kitchen and lounge area, with a further 36 studio rooms. 

Amenities will include an on-site laundry, a games and common room for the exclusive use of residents with a 24 hour manned reception. It will be built to BREEAM – Very Good specification level

David Griffiths, development director of Cosmopolitan Student Homes said: “This is the second joint venture that CSH has undertaken with Iliad.  The new rooms will make a welcome and high quality addition to CSH’s student accommodation portfolio in Liverpool”.

The St Michael’s site is currently a misused waste-ground, owned by the local church, St Michaels in the City, it was a cemetery in the 19th century.

Rev Guy Elsmore of St Michaels said, “This development will bring much desired work and regeneration into a needy part of our parish.  It is good to see a student development, a vital sector in City economy of today, now finding a place in the L1 community – a traditional heart of the city’s economy.”

Architect Tim Groom of Formroom, who has designed the development, said: “It will set a new standard in terms of specification and design, with interiors promoting more of a boutique hotel style which should impress even the most discerning of students. The development really exemplifies the next generation of contemporary student accommodation.”

Construction work will begin in January.