Partners press on with Castle Leazes redevelopment
Unite Students and Newcastle University have lodged a demolition application as they seek to replace existing accommodation with 2,000 student bedspaces in a £250m project.
Pegasus is advising the joint venture partners on the project, which was announced in February.
Architect Norr, Solmek and E3 Ecology are also on the professional team, while Arup has prepared the demolition and environmental management plan.
Plans for the demolition phase, which the partners hope to start at the end of the current academic year, have now been validated on Newcastle City Council’s planning portal, with the reference 2024/0444/01/DET.
The goal is for the main construction phase to begin in early 2025, with delivery inked in for 2027 and 2028. Built in 1969, Castle Leazes currently provides around 1,250 beds.
Unite Students will act as development and asset manager to the JV, with 51% of the shares. The firm will provide £128m of the £250m total development cost.
To support the university’s accommodation requirements during the development phase, Unite has separately entered into a four-year nomination agreement for 1,600 beds in other Unite Students properties in the city.
