Unite Students has announced it has secured planning approval to develop a one-acre site in Aberdeen.

The organisation, which is the UK's leading developer and manager of student accommodation, will see the development located in the city centre.

When completed it will provide accommodation for 399 students.

A derelict, listed school building currently occupies the site which was acquired from Aberdeen City Council. The project will see the school refurbished and will house 16% of the bedrooms, with the remaining rooms being constructed in an adjacent six-storey property.


Expected to open in time for the beginning of the 2016/17 academic year, the 120,000 sq ft scheme will cost around £20m to develop.

Situated in the centre of Aberdeen, the development will be in close proximity to the University of Aberdeen and has good transport links to Robert Gordon University. It is also located within the main cluster of existing student accommodation around King Street, including Unite's existing property, Spring Gardens and Mealmarket Exchange.

Richard Simpson, Managing Director of Property for Unite Students, said: "We are very pleased to have received planning consent for this site as our development pipeline continues to progress well. This is our fifth site in Aberdeen, where we already provide a home for over 1,300 students.

"Causewayend will provide a safe and secure home for students and will help to strengthen our relationships with University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University and meet the accommodation demands of Aberdeen's growing student population, whilst contributing to the regeneration of the area."

(JP/IT)