Newcastle University announced today, 18 May, it has chosen Galliford Try plc, a FTSE 250 company, as the principal contractor for the new £75 million Park View Student Village. The project replaces the existing 1970s buildings in Richardson Road with six new blocks providing almost 1,300 ensuite bedrooms for future students.

Demolition of the existing flats will start in the summer of 2016 with the new halls set to open for students in September 2018. The project will also create associated infrastructure including a new energy centre for the village. 

As part of the redevelopment project, Newcastle University worked with charities to donate 6,500 out of the 10,000 items of furniture from the existing site.

High quality student accommodation

Paul Bandeen, Head of Residences at Newcastle University, said: “We are delighted to be working with Galliford Try to design and deliver the new Park View Student Village accommodation scheme which will see the demolition of outdated student accommodation replaced with the high quality facilities today’s students need and expect.”

Peter Truscott, Chief Executive of Galliford Try, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Newcastle University to deliver such a significant scheme. Higher education is a key sector for us and our success here in being selected for these contracts is a reflection of the capability we have demonstrated in producing high-quality accommodation and housing for a range of clients across the country.”

Among the best in the UK

Students have voted Newcastle University accommodation as one of the best in the UK according to an independent survey. The National Student Housing Survey recognised the universities achieving the highest overall satisfaction ratings in its halls. Newcastle University is ranked sixth in the UK, based on the ratings of more than 22,000 students across all aspects of the student accommodation experience.

The Times Higher Education’s Student Experience Survey 2016 placed Newcastle University joint seventh in the UK for student experience. Student accommodation was one of the categories ranked highly by Newcastle University students.

There are over 5,000 bedrooms available across Newcastle University’s residence sites for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The University is a member of the UUK Code of Practice for the Management of Student Housing which ensures compliance with good management practice.