Almost 800 modules will be pieced together to create the £75 million project, which replaces the 1970s buildings in Richardson Road. Opening in 2018, the six new buildings will provide almost 1,300 ensuite bedrooms for students. Galliford Try plc is the principal contractor for Park View Student Village.

The student accommodation will feature a distinctive modular design, consisting of pre-fabricated room pods produced in China and shipped to Newcastle. The first shipment of modules, which arrived in early April, is being delivered to the accommodation site.

High-quality student accommodation

Paul Bandeen, Head of Residences at Newcastle University, said: “After a long period of careful planning, it’s extremely exciting to see the first modules arriving and the accommodation starting to take shape. Park View Student Village will offer a top class living environment to all of our prospective students when it opens in 2018.”

Paul Milburn, Project Director, Galliford Try, said: “The arrival of our first modules is the result of over 12 months hard work by both Galliford Try Construction and Newcastle University’s teams.

“We’ve worked closely with Newcastle University and CIMC-MBS in both the UK and China to ensure the transition of module design conception to delivery and installation on site is as seamless as possible. The end scheme is something all members of the team can be proud of.” 

The first batch of modules is for Rede, the smallest block on Park View Student Village, which has four floors and will accommodate 92 students. All six accommodation blocks have been named after local rivers: Alwin, Breamish, Derwent, Irthing, Pont and Rede.

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 Richardson Road site. Newcastle University students have been involved in the planning and design project.

Prior to building works, an ecology survey was carried out where it was found that the site was an active area for bats. Two bat houses with solar panels were built for the bats to encourage the animals to stay on the site.