Morgan Sindall Construction's Cambridge division has started work on a new student accommodation project at Queens’ College, University of Cambridge.

The £34.4 million scheme, known as Owlstone Croft, will deliver 13 high-quality homes built to Passivhaus standards, alongside the refurbishment of Blocks A and B within the existing college estate. The development spans 6,500 sq. m and will provide 60 new bedrooms in Owlstone Croft and 87 refurbished bedrooms in the existing blocks.

Designed to cater to a range of student budgets, the project includes a mix of single and double bedrooms. Refurbishment works in Blocks A and B will also feature a café and gym extension, a cycle store, and study and seminar rooms for student use.

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Situated next to Cambridge's Paradise Nature Reserve, Owlstone Croft incorporates landscaping to enhance local biodiversity, including rain gardens and new plantings. The development will feature a masonry façade with reconstituted stone, a CLT timber frame, and mansard roofs to create full-height rooms while maintaining the site’s historic aesthetic.

Sustainability is central to the project, with each of Owlstone Croft's four terraces built to Passivhaus standards. Morgan Sindall will install air source heat pumps, PV panels, and green roofs on both the new terraces and refurbished blocks in line with the company’s green initiatives.

John Stedman, Project Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Cambridge, said: "It's an absolute pleasure to start works on the Owlstone Croft terraces and the refurbishment of Blocks A and B in collaboration with Queens’ College. Students deserve a place where they can study and unwind, and we're so proud that our development plans will support a more fulfilling living experience for them.

"With these high-quality developments that remain in keeping with Queens' Colleges historic feel, we will create a comfortable and inviting space that students can truly consider home throughout their academic journey."

The Owlstone Croft development and associated refurbishments are scheduled for completion in summer 2027.