End-of-year completion date for £12.5m student accommodation property

Work on a new £12.5m student accommodation scheme in Leeds is on target to complete before the end of the year.

Known as Union, the seven-storey development will offer 87 modern studio apartments fronting directly onto Burley Street, within walking distance of both the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University, as well as Leeds city centre. The scheme is being developed by Burley Place Ltd (BPL).

Hamze Idriss, a project manager from BPL, said: “We are looking beyond providing the basic needs for students, aiming to create spaces that make life less stressful and more enjoyable.” 

All the apartments will benefit from en-suite luxury bathrooms, modern kitchens, entertaining space, double beds, contemporary furniture, flat screen TVs and high-speed fibre optic internet.

In addition, Union offers secure access, a concierge service, 24-hour security, games zone, cinema room and a large gym, as well as study areas, communal lounge, secure cycle storage, electric vehicle charging points and laundry facilities.

In addition, Co-op will be opening a convenience store on the ground floor. 

HOP, which has recently rebranded from Let Leeds, has been appointed to market and manage the development.

The site, which is flanked by Park Lane at the rear, was previously home to a redundant office building that was demolished to make way for the new development. Tolent Construction is the principal contractor. 

Neil Dawkin, general manager at HOP, said: “There are a range of apartments, providing an impressive 28 square metres of living accommodation on average, which surpasses almost everything else on the market in Leeds.

“The development is in a perfect location, close to both the city’s universities and within easy reach of all Leeds city centre’s leisure and retail amenities, as well as being less than a mile from Leeds Railway Station. 

“Early signs suggest students are undeterred by the pandemic and we’re already reserving apartments and generating high levels of interest from both existing students and new starters.”

John Currie, regional director from Tolent Construction, added: “We’ve worked hard to overcome the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and we’re delighted that Union is on track to complete later this year.

“Union will set a whole new benchmark in terms of space, facilities and overall quality. It’s set to become a landmark building for Burley Street and it’s a fantastic development for Tolent to put our name to.”