Green light for 3,300-bed Manchester student accommodation scheme

Planning approval has been granted for a 3,300-bed student accommodation scheme in Manchester.

Developed by Viridis Living and designed by Sheppard Robson, the £400m redevelopment of the university’s 24-acre Fallowfield campus will span 23 blocks in one of the city’s largest student accommodation schemes.

Viridis Living, a consortium comprising Equitix, Graham and Derwent FM, also submitted its first application to the Building Safety Regulator in July, three months ahead of planning approval, and said it expects construction work to start early next year.

Covering Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall, the development will span five distinct neighbourhoods, each with their own identity inspired by Manchester’s cultural, sporting and musical heritage.

The project is also targeting passivhaus certification and  BREEAM Excellent rating.

Sheppard Robson partner Natalia Maximova said: “Our design draws on the site’s layered history and character—from the rich parkland setting to the careful preservation and relocation of Mitzi Cunliffe’s ‘Cosmos 1’ relief sculpture. 

“The detailed proposals establish five distinct neighbourhoods, fostering a sense of belonging through varied colours, textures, and finishes, with sustainability and wellbeing as unifying threads.”

The redevelopment will add around 900 rooms compared to the existing buildings, with 80% of the rooms to be offered at standard rates and 20% to be sold at a premium.

Enabling works are currently underway, with a phased handover of the scheme expected to allow students to move into the new residences from 2026 to 2030.