Watkin Jones has reached the Gateway 2 milestone for a 201-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development on Freestone Road in Bristol's Temple Quarter, being delivered for a joint venture between Moorfield Group and Tiger Developments. Host will operate the asset on completion, with Watkin Jones acting as development partner.

Gateway 2 confirms the project has secured the approvals, funding and contractual commitments needed to proceed. Site works began in early January 2026, with practical completion aimed for the start of the 2027/8 academic year.

The brownfield site will be transformed into four blocks comprising 65 en-suite cluster rooms and 136 self-contained studios. The scheme is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Located directly opposite the new Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus — a £500m University of Bristol project set to accommodate 4,600 students, 650 staff and 350 partners across new business schools, research hubs and innovation centres — the development sits within a key regeneration area.

Watkin Jones said the scheme aligns with its strategy to deliver sustainable developments while diversifying revenues and supporting long-term growth, with construction progressing swiftly following Gateway 2 approval.

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Gwyn Pritchard, Managing Director at Watkin Jones, commented: "Achieving Gateway 2 approval for our PBSA scheme on Freestone Road demonstrates our expertise in driving projects forward while maintaining our focus on excellence in construction delivery. The development highlights our ability to meet market demand with innovative, high-standard builds that benefit communities and stakeholders alike. Well done to all involved."

Hugh Canham, Head of Asset Management at Moorfield Group, said: "We are pleased to have achieved Gateway 2 approval, which has been the result of a great deal of work from the entire project team. Working with experienced delivery partners with a proven track record, such as Watkin Jones and Tiger Developments, is central to our UK Living sector strategy. Our conviction remains that purpose-built high-quality assets will command a scarcity premium amongst both investors and consumers as new supply is constrained by ongoing regulatory and viability challenges."

John Nesbitt, Managing Director at Tiger Developments said: "Reaching Gateway 2 approval for the Freestone Road PBSA scheme marks a major step forward for this development and we are pleased to see work underway on site. This scheme will deliver high-quality, sustainable student accommodation in a prime Temple Quarter location, supporting Bristol's growing student population while contributing positively to the wider regeneration of the area. We look forward to working closely with Watkin Jones and our partners to bring this project to completion for the 2027/28 academic year."

Moorfield has a longstanding presence in student housing, having delivered around 5,000 beds via its Domain platform established in 1997, and is aggregating a further 2,000+ beds through its strategy to acquire and modernise student HMOs, alongside single-family, multifamily and co-living initiatives within the Living sector.

For Tiger Developments, Freestone Road is its second Bristol student scheme, following the Avon Street project approved in July 2022, which will deliver 447 bedrooms for the 2026/7 academic year. Host is one of the UK's largest student accommodation operators and launched its first operational co-living asset under the Habito brand in Guildford in 2025.