SES Engineering Services has been appointed to help deliver a new student accommodation project in Manchester.

The company will work alongside main contractor Bowmer and Kirkland to deliver a 384-bed student facility as part of the £750 million mixed-use Circle Square development.

The 18-storey, 90,000 sq ft Building 9 will feature a range of mechanical and electrical building services including energy generation, access controls, thermal insulation, above ground drainage and heating and ventilation as well as CCTV. In addition, Building 9 will also incorporate studio accommodation, as well as a movie room, café and bar on the ground floor. Each of the 16 floors of accommodation will have its own mini-hub with integral kitchen which will be used as a social space. The building will also incorporate retail space and work is due to start this summer.

SES' appointment marks it extension on the Circle Square scheme, with the company also currently on site with Buildings 10 and 11, two contemporary blocks designed to create some 716 student accommodation studios for Select Property Group. Designed to create a new city centre neighbourhood, the wider Circle Square masterplan includes a further 600,000 sq ft of commercial space, due to be delivered between 2022 and 2025, and an additional 150 room hotel.


Steve Joyce, SES' business director North and Scotland, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be working on behalf of Bowmer and Kirkland, on such a significant scheme for the city of Manchester, as well as being given the opportunity to continue to support such a ground-breaking provider of student accommodation as Vita Student.

"Within the North West, we have the right combination of experience and in-house resource to deliver complex and highly serviced buildings of this type. With a focus on innovation, I also anticipate using Prism, our in-house offsite manufacturing facility, to prefabricate the roof top plant room.

"This approach will also facilitate important ‘just-in-time deliveries', which will be a key driver in ensuring that we meet the timescales we have been tasked with for an August 2019 completion.

"We very much look forward to forging a successful and ongoing working relationship with Bowmer and Kirkland in the North West."

Paul Sykes, Regional Commercial Director, Bowmer and Kirkland, said: "We are delighted to be able to play such a key role in the ongoing development of Circle Square and pleased to have SES onboard as construction progresses.

SES' existing knowledge of the wider site, coupled with its extensive experience of delivering major student accommodation projects across the UK, gives me the confidence that they have the right skills and depth of resource to match ours which will ensure that together, we will provide a high level of service and deliver quality workmanship."

(LM)