McAleer & Rushe has started work to deliver two new student accommodation schemes worth more than £80 million in Bournemouth.

The two projects on Lansdowne Road and Holdenhurst Road, which will bring over 950 additional student beds to the town, are scheduled for completion in time for the 2019/20 academic year.

The first £47m scheme on Lansdowne Road (Bailey Point) will be developed on a site previously occupied by a Bournemouth University building and car park. The scheme will house 550 students featuring four to eight bed apartments including a new sky lounge. Highway improvements are also being undertaken as part of the project.

Elsewhere, the £36m project on Holdenhurst Road (Belaton House) will contain 403 bedrooms, in a combination of three to eight bed apartments, 'twodios' and studios.

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Both developments will utilise electronic key fob entry systems and CCTV monitoring throughout, as well up to date fire safety systems.

The projects are being backed by GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, Global Student Accommodation (GSA).

James Childs, UK Construction Director at GSA, said: "Having been planning these developments for over two year, it's extremely exciting to see works start. At the peak of construction, we estimate that there will be in excess of 300 operatives working at Bailey Point and Belaton House, and 8 staff will be employed to operate each residence once they open in 2019. The vast majority of these vacancies will be filled by local workers."

Dominic Trainor, Contracts Director at McAleer & Rushe, said: "We are delighted to work once again in close partnership with GSA following the successful delivery of Catherine House in Portsmouth and Austen House in Southampton. There is a great spirit of teamwork and collaboration between the teams shaping these two very exciting projects which we look forward to seeing come to life in Bournemouth."

Image: CGI of Lansdowne Road development.

(LM/MH)