GRAHAM, in partnership with the University of Manchester, Equitix and Rothesay, has reached financial close on a £530 million (US$712.8 million), 50-year partnership to redevelop the Fallowfield Campus and deliver 3,300 sustainable student accommodation rooms in Manchester.

The scheme will provide 3,300 high-quality, sustainable student rooms, together with modern shared amenities aimed at improving the student experience for future generations. The project will be delivered through a 50-year partnership involving the University of Manchester, Equitix, GRAHAM and Rothesay. The partnership brings together expertise in investment, development, construction and student accommodation operations, with Rothesay providing the cornerstone funding. The partners will work together to deliver, operate and maintain the accommodation over the long term. 

A major feature of the redevelopment is its focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Fallowfield is set to become the world’s largest single-phase Passivhaus-certified student accommodation development, with operational energy use expected to be approximately 50% lower than conventional new-build student accommodation. The scheme is also planned to support net-zero-carbon operations, biodiversity, wellbeing and social value. 

The accommodation has been designed as a wellbeing-led living environment, incorporating features such as improved daylight, air quality, acoustic performance, accessibility, overheating protection and access to nature. This approach is intended to create healthier and more comfortable living spaces while supporting the university’s long-term objectives. 

For GRAHAM, the project represents a significant opportunity to deliver a large-scale sustainable development in partnership with public and private-sector organisations. The company also describes Fallowfield as the UK’s largest precast modern methods of construction (MMC)-centred development, positioning the scheme as a benchmark for sustainable student accommodation and construction.