|
Student accommodation provider, Jarvis University Partnerships Programme (Jarvis UPP), has reached financial close for its first major contract in London, bringing its total investment in the UK higher education sector to over £300m.
The project, which is being undertaken by Jarvis UPP in partnership with the University of Greenwich and Bellerbys College , will deliver London’s largest, new student village. Jarvis will develop the three-acre site on Creek Road, Greenwich, providing full academic teaching facilities for up to 300 students together with secure residential accommodation for 948 students.
Clive Crawford, Managing Director, Jarvis UPP, said: “Developing London’s largest new student village is a very prestigious project for us and shows our continuing commitment to working in partnership with the public sector. Greenwich is a milestone in our own history - taking our investment in the higher education sector to over £300m.”
The village will be located around four landscaped courtyards and will comprise a diversity of buildings ranging in height, style, colour and design, including a proposed internet café and outdoor terracing. The complex will also offer a range of mixed-use business units, enabling the provision of crèche and healthcare facilities for students and the local community.
A variety of en-suite study bedrooms, self-contained flats and studio rooms will be available, with additional facilities such as cycle storage and launderettes. The interior of each room will feature modern IT data amenities and a study area, creating an environment conducive to study.
Jarvis will also provide a full range of facilities management services including, security, cleaning, refuse collection and building and grounds maintenance over a 30-year period.
The Creek Road site is adjacent to the Rachel McMillan Nursery School and has historic links with the McMillan sisters, pioneers of nursery school education in the UK. It will be operated in partnership with the University of Greenwich and Bellerbys College and will commemorate both Margaret and Rachel McMillan by name.
Phase I construction will start in October 2002 with 282 rooms expected to be ready for occupation in Autumn 2003. The whole development is due to be completed in Autumn 2004. The total development cost of the project is approximately £42.5m and the expected whole life value is £173m.
The new development will benefit the local environment by reducing pressure on housing stock in the Greenwich and Lewisham area where there are over 30,000 university students with access to only a very limited amount of purpose-built en-suite accommodation. Emphasis will be also placed on cycling and local public transport with car parking restricted to staff and disabled students.
Paul Stigant, Campus Director of the Maritime Green Campus, University of Greenwich, said: “The University of Greenwich welcomes this project which offers our students high quality accommodation close to our largest campus at Maritime Greenwich, complementing existing halls of residence there. Plans for the student village indicate that it will be modern and well-equipped and that students will benefit from a safe and secure environment. We all look forward to the completion of this development – a site fit for the 21st century.”
Cllr Maureen O'Mara, Greenwich Council's Planning Board, said: “This scheme helps to preserve the McMillan legacy of education for local people, which dates back almost a century in this part of Deptford and Greenwich. It promises to increase the vibrancy and vitality that is already starting to be felt by the development of Greenwich into a university town.
Clive Crawford, Managing Director, Jarvis UPP, said: “This is another innovative PPP development and will help to provide Greenwich’s students with the quality of facilities they require both to undertake their University studies and to take full advantage of University life. We are delighted to be involved with the scheme which will generate income for the local economy and help in the regeneration of this historic area.”
Principal funding for the project is being provided by NIB Capital Bank and Halifax Bank of Scotland with Jarvis plc and Barclays Private Equity being the equity investors.
ENDS
Selection of elevations and artist’s impressions available by email. For more information please contact:
Claire Dexter or Stuart Lambert, Republic
Tel: +44 (0)20 7379 5000. E-mail: claire.stuart@republicpr.com
Mike Tate, Director of Corporate Communications, Jarvis plc
Tel. +44 (0)20 7462 6670 E-mail: mike.tate@jarvis-uk.com | 
