Viridis Living has reached a major milestone in the delivery of new student accommodation at the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus, with the Building Safety Regulator granting Gateway 2 approval for the first two higher-risk buildings (HRBs) on the development.
The consortium, comprising Equitix, GRAHAM and Derwent FM, has now submitted seven HRBs to the Building Safety Regulator, with approvals secured for two of these. The two approved buildings each comprise 14 storeys, with one providing 205 beds and the other 207 beds, with all rooms being en-suite.
With Gateway 2 approval in place, structural works on the two buildings will start this month. The consortium expects to receive decisions from the Building Safety Regulator on the remaining five HRBs within the next two months.
From securing planning approval to achieving the first Building Safety Regulator approvals in just 15 weeks, this success reflects the project team’s collaborative and rapid approach to meeting the new regulatory requirements.
The Fallowfield Campus redevelopment will deliver up to 3,300 modern, high-quality student homes across the previous sites of Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall, alongside amenity spaces and extensive green infrastructure. The project, designed by architects, Sheppard Robson, will create five distinct neighbourhoods, each inspired by Manchester’s cultural, sporting and musical heritage. The scheme is targeting Passivhaus certification and, once achieved, will become the largest certified Passivhaus project in Europe. It is also pursuing a BREEAM Excellent rating, with Modern Methods of Construction helping to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and accelerate delivery.
Commenting on the approvals, Neil McFarlane, GRAHAM Project Director for the Fallowfield Campus, said: “Securing Gateway 2 approval for the first two HRBs is a significant milestone for the Fallowfield Campus project and testament to the collaborative approach taken by the whole team. With structural works now able to commence on these two buildings, and further approvals expected in the coming months, we are making strong progress towards delivering safe, high-quality and sustainable student accommodation for Manchester.”
Ben Leech, Managing Director, Investments, Equitix, said: “We’re delighted that the Fallowfield Campus student accommodation project has reached this important stage. This is a key step forward for the University of Manchester in delivering modern, high-quality living spaces that ensure a safe, comfortable, and sustainable student experience for years to come. Equitix is proud to work closely with the university and our partners at GRAHAM throughout planning and construction to bring this vision to life.”
Natalia Maximova, Partner, Sheppard Robson, said: “The Gateway 2 approval for the first two high-risk residential blocks is a testament to successful teamwork and effective collaboration, which would not have been possible without early supply chain input and specialist expertise. The focus of the Gateway 2 review was technical compliance, requiring a high level of co-ordination and design quality throughout the proposal. Key design decisions, such as the adoption of a precast cross-wall system and the extended use of concrete, added inherent fire safety properties to the scheme and simplified fa?ade co-ordination. This has been a learning process for all participants and required full commitment from everyone. Well done to the project team.”
