UPP has been selected as the preferred bidder to develop new on-campus accommodation for students.

Preferred bidder for new student accommodation named

University Partnerships Programme (UPP), has been selected as the preferred bidder to develop new on-campus accommodation for students, the University of Exeter has announced.

UPP was chosen to undertake the development of East Park, on the University’s Streatham Campus, following a comprehensive tender process.

UPP will be responsible for designing, building, funding and operating the new accommodation, which is due to create around 1200 on-campus bedrooms.  This will be the largest build of on-campus accommodation since 2012 and forms part of a plan to create an additional 1500 bedrooms in total.

Works on the new accommodation, which strengthen the University’s commitment to reducing pressure on the city’s housing stock by accommodating more students on campus, are due to be completed by September 2021.

Mike Shore-Nye, Registrar and Secretary at the University, said: “We are delighted to announce that we will be working with UPP to take forward the next stage of our accommodation development programme. 

“East Park is a significant project for the University which forms part of our ambitious Capital Strategy to invest in our campuses, estate and infrastructure over the next 10 years.”

Sean O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of UPP, said: “This announcement is testament to the strength of our existing bespoke, long-term partnership with the University. Since 2009, we have delivered and operated circa 2,500 high-quality and affordable purpose-built student residences on campus. Through the proposed development, we look forward to continuing to support the University’s strategic objectives and partnering to provide the best student experience.”

Outline planning for the site was granted in April 2017 and works are due to commence in early 2019 with the new accommodation set to open in two phases from September 2020 and September 2021.

A further public consultation will take place later in June, where both the University and UPP will share their detailed plans of the new accommodation.

It is expected that a full contract award will be announced in December 2018 subject to successful completion of the preferred bidder stage.

Date: 4 June 2018