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Student A<strong>cc</strong>ommodation that gives<br />
Investors a Win-Win Solution<br />
The removal of the cap on student numbers in UK universities has seen a 3% rise in university enrolment across the country. This<br />
has meant a shortage of a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation with some students having to share bunk bed rooms in halls. Whilst others have been<br />
given reduced rate hotels with two weeks to find alternative a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation.<br />
In 2015 around £2.5bn was spent on<br />
additional student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation with<br />
around a 14% yield on investment. These<br />
figures are expected to rise.<br />
To answer this gap in the market Premier<br />
Modular developed an innovative modular<br />
building system. This highly efficient light gauge<br />
steel frame based, factory engineered product is<br />
constructed by skilled assembly teams in the<br />
company’s 22 acre site in Yorkshire. The system<br />
is ideal for a full stand alone build and also<br />
perfectly designed for rooftop extensions in tight<br />
inner city locations.<br />
These engineered and factory assembled<br />
products offer significant advantages in many<br />
areas.<br />
Foremost are the time benefits, as<br />
manufacturing is done on a flow line there is no<br />
risk of late delivery from outside forces such as<br />
the weather. Business Development Director,<br />
Rachel Davis, commented ‘Rooms can be<br />
manufactured at a rate of 25 per week and<br />
complete houses at a rate of 20 per week, with<br />
minimal onsite time’<br />
This speed of construction not only reduces<br />
labour rates and prelims but gives a much<br />
faster return on investment whether clients are<br />
selling or gaining a monthly rental income<br />
This doesn’t mean compromise in other areas<br />
though, modules are constructed to exacting<br />
quality levels in the controlled factory<br />
environment and with as much as 75% of the<br />
buildings manufactured offsite, the risk of<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>idents on site is greatly reduced.<br />
Premier Modular Ltd working as a supply chain<br />
partner to Sir Robert McAlpine completed a 5<br />
storey 206 bedroom student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation<br />
block in <strong>Sept</strong> 2015. Located in Newcastle Upon<br />
Tyne city centre it consisted of a mixture of 54<br />
studio flats, 105 en-suite bedrooms and 2<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>essible en-suite rooms with associated living<br />
spaces, kitchens and study areas.<br />
Premier was chosen as the preferred supplier<br />
due to speed of programme and the high quality<br />
finish that could be provided. The project was<br />
driven by an immovable programme<br />
requirement of the <strong>Sept</strong>ember student intake,<br />
Premier efficiently manufactured 300 modules<br />
fully fitted out and decorated in the factory - an<br />
excellent demonstration of the enormous time<br />
benefits realised by using the off-site system.<br />
Significantly the foundations and demolition<br />
commenced on site whilst the modules were<br />
being manufactured – ensuring no time was<br />
wasted in the process.<br />
Rachel Davis said ‘Completing this project using<br />
off site construction not only gave the investors<br />
a whole year of additional return, it was also a<br />
deciding factor in ‘The Foundry’ in Newcastle<br />
winning ‘Project of the Year Up to £10m’ at the<br />
Construction News Awards. The client is at the<br />
centre of everything we do and we take great<br />
pride in pushing the limits of modular design<br />
whilst balancing other key project drivers. We<br />
always strive for innovation and excellence,<br />
coupled with a customer-focussed service<br />
ethos, and are proud and excited to have been<br />
shortlisted for an Offsite Award on another<br />
recently completed project. These awards are<br />
confirmation for ourselves that we continue to<br />
be forward thinking and creative’.<br />
In a market where an increased rate of build is<br />
required, building standards are increasing,<br />
sustainability is of upmost importance and high<br />
quality lifestyle choices are an expectation –<br />
Premier Modular’s offsite construction has the<br />
answer.<br />
0800 3160888<br />
sales@premiermodular.co.uk<br />
www.premiermodular.co.uk<br />
24 <strong>MMC</strong><br />
Sep/Oct 2016 MI