Watkin Jones has secured Gateway 2 approval for a 201-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Bristol, enabling construction to proceed at the Freestone Road site.
The £60m development is being delivered on behalf of a joint venture between Moorfield Group and Tiger Developments. The scheme is targeting EPC A and BREEAM Excellent standards, incorporating photovoltaic panels and a connection to a district heating network as part of its sustainability strategy.
Known as Freestone Yards, the project will regenerate a brownfield site in the Temple Quarter area of Bristol. The plans comprise four blocks delivering a mix of 65 en-suite cluster flats and 136 self-contained studios. The development is designed to meet modern operational and environmental performance benchmarks, with a BREEAM Excellent rating targeted at completion.
Managing director Gwyn Pritchard said: “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.”
Gateway 2 approval, introduced under the Building Safety Act for higher-risk buildings, represents a critical regulatory milestone, confirming that the detailed design satisfies building safety requirements before construction advances.
The Bristol scheme adds to Moorfield’s expanding student accommodation portfolio. Through its Domain operating platform, the investor has delivered around 5,000 student beds, with a further 2,000-plus beds currently being assembled as part of its wider student housing strategy.
With Gateway 2 clearance secured, Freestone Yards now moves into the construction phase, contributing to continued regeneration activity within Bristol’s Temple Quarter and reinforcing investor appetite for high-quality, sustainability-led PBSA assets.
