Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has successfully advised The University of Manchester on a significant redevelopment project, marking the largest student accommodation design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) initiative ever undertaken by a UK university. This major redevelopment reflects the university’s commitment to offering high-quality housing for its students, aiming to create modern, sustainable living spaces where students can thrive academically and socially.
Barra Mac Ruairí, Chief Property Officer at The University of Manchester, expressed, “This redevelopment will enable us to provide modern, high-quality accommodation that supports the needs of current and future students, while creating sustainable, welcoming places where students can live, study and socialise.” The project will revamp parts of the university’s Fallowfield campus, including Owens Park, Oak House, and Woolton Hall, delivering approximately 3,330 contemporary student bedrooms as part of a significant regeneration programme.
The Role of Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons delivered a comprehensive suite of legal services to the university, covering a range of areas such as property, planning, construction, projects, finance, and corporate matters. This included strategic guidance relating to the university’s equity stake in the project special purpose vehicle. Chris Owens, Partner at Pinsent Masons, highlighted the pressing need for modern and affordable student accommodation in Manchester, stating, “We are delighted to have worked with the University on a project that will help meet that demand. As the largest student accommodation DBFO project ever undertaken by a UK university, it represents a major milestone for both the University and the wider higher education sector.”
Team and Expertise
The Pinsent Masons team responsible for this project was led by partners Victoria Goddard and Chris Owens, with support from Pav Bhullar, Francesca Knight, Louise Blair, Stuart Barr, James McDonald, Alison Groat, and Gillian Frew. Victoria Goddard noted, “This project shows how universities can work with private sector partners to deliver large scale accommodation developments while continuing to focus their resources on their core academic and research priorities.” Given the current challenges in the higher education sector, the model adopted here is likely to inspire more institutions to pursue similar collaborative approaches as they look to modernise their estates and enhance the student experience.
Industry Context and Implications
Pinsent Masons has a strong track record in advising universities on student accommodation and campus infrastructure projects, having been recognised as Property Week’s Student Accommodation Legal Team of the Year four times in the past six years. This latest development in Manchester not only addresses the acute need for student housing but also exemplifies a strategic partnership model that could become increasingly common in the UK PBSA market as institutions strive to enhance their offerings while managing financial pressures.