GRAHAM has officially started construction on a new £59m student accommodation development at Loughborough University. The milestone was celebrated last week with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site, which is situated in the Central Park area of the University's East Midlands campus.

The ceremony was attended by key figures including Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University; James Henry, Project Board Chair; Mia Jackson, President of Loughborough Students' Union; and Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM.

The purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project is designed to meet the rising demand for high-quality, self-catered living options. The scheme will comprise 552 bedspaces distributed across five blocks, reaching up to six storeys in height. Residents will have access to en-suite rooms, shared study and social spaces, and communal amenity areas. The plans also include sub-warden accommodation, a new plant block, and comprehensive external works.

-- Advertisement --

Sustainability is a core component of the project's energy strategy, which incorporates the use of photo voltaic panels and air source heat pumps. The buildings will be surrounded by landscaped grounds intended to provide a welcoming environment for students to socialise and study.

The project, which received planning approval from Charnwood Borough Council, is a key element of the University's long-term strategy to expand on-site housing.

Graham Howard, Director of Estates and Facilities Management at Loughborough University, said: "We're delighted to get this hugely important project underway. The new hall will provide our students, both those already studying with us and those who'll join us in the future, with high-quality accommodation alongside shared space for them to study and socialise, at the very heart of our campus."

Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM, added: "Breaking ground marks the transition from planning to delivery on a development that will make a meaningful contribution to the University's campus and student experience.

"Our team brings significant experience in delivering complex accommodation and education projects, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Loughborough University and our project partners to bring this development to life."

Work on the site is now progressing, with a completion date set for late-summer 2027, ensuring the facility is ready for the start of the academic year.