Living Spaces - Waterman

Manchester Metropolitan University Cambridge Halls

npilch — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:30:25 +0000

The redevelopment of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Cambridge Halls accommodation is the result of a ground-breaking partnership between the university and Unite Students.

Situated in the heart of the city’s university quarter, the Cartwright Pickard-designed scheme will deliver 2,302 new student bedrooms, arranged across towers of 30 and 24 storeys. To make way for the new blocks, the existing 1990s-built Cambridge Halls will be demolished.

The new development will offer a range of room types, including dorm-style, cluster flats and studios, and will cater for students with different needs and budgets. The scheme also includes a super‑sized kitchen and lounge for 400 students, and residents will have access to a variety of high-quality amenity spaces, including a rooftop exercise area, sports pitches and an allotment. Space will be provided for a new community health centre, whilst shared access for pedestrians and cyclists through the middle of the site will be incorporated, along with enhanced landscaping and public spaces.

Under the joint venture, Unite Students will act as developer, asset manager and operator with a 70% share of the ownership.

Continuing our successful partnerships with both Manchester Metropolitan University and Unite Students, Waterman’s team provided multidisciplinary support for this latest project. Our building services expert’s all-electric MEP design incorporates roof-mounted air source heat pumps for heating and hot water, along with a hybrid ventilation system to suit the busy city centre location.

With the development targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, our sustainability services specialists worked closely with Unite Students to support their commitment to delivering Net Zero student accommodation, seeing us conduct detailed pre-demolition and reuse audits to embed material circularity within the design. In addition, we also provided detailed energy and overheating strategies and lead the BREEAM assessment.

Construction of the first 1,101 beds is expected to complete in time for the start of the 2029/30 academic year, whilst the second phase, offering 1,201 beds, is scheduled to complete the following year.

The post Manchester Metropolitan University Cambridge Halls first appeared on Waterman.

Bats thrive at Graven Hill: Record roost numbers signal ecological success

lrichards — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:15:53 +0000

Our ecology experts are delighted with the findings of this year’s bat box monitoring at the Graven Hill development in Bicester. The mitigation and enhancement measures implemented are proving highly successful, supporting a flourishing bat population on site.

Graven Hill, a 187-hectare former Ministry of Defence (MOD) site in Oxfordshire, is being transformed into a phased residential development, and our specialists have been providing ecological advice for over a decade. In 2021, surveys carried out by our licenced ecologist Simon Dowell (MCIEEM) identified ten day-roosts for low numbers of bats, including common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), and brown long-eared (Plecotus auritus), within buildings scheduled for demolition. To mitigate this loss and enhance the site, we secured a Natural England European Protected Species Licence and installed 45 bat boxes, including large woodstone multi-chamber boxes and Schwegler 1FDs, across the site.

“

It’s wonderful to see so many bat boxes being colonised. Most bat species are crevices dwellers, so it’s essential to design and position roosts that suit their natural habits. Our monitoring shows that bats, once dependent on the old MOD buildings are now thriving in new habitats among Graven Hill’s newly-planted trees and woodlands.

Simon Dowell
Our Principal Ecologist

Monitoring results showed remarkable progress in 2023, with eight of the bat boxes occupied, hosting small numbers of common pipistrelles, with the largest count being over five individuals, and two natterer’s (Myotis nattereri) bats. In 2024, eight-day roosts remained, with fifteen common pipistrelles and one natterer’s bat recorded. This year’s monitoring survey revealed even greater success: eleven roosts were identified, including fourteen common pipistrelles, three soprano pipistrelles, ten natterer’s bats, and four brown long-eared bats. Elsewhere, evidence of bats was also found in three additional boxes, indicating further activity.

“

We’re incredibly proud of the positive environmental impact we’re achieving at Graven Hill. The bat project is a fantastic example of how thoughtful planning, ecological expertise, and community awareness can deliver lasting benefits. Our residents and neighbours can be confident that protecting biodiversity remains central to everything we do as the development continues to grow.

Gemma Davies of Graven Hill Village Development Company
said in a recent statement

With Stage 1 of the project nearing completion and Stage 2 moving to secure planning, our licensed ecology team is optimistic that bat populations will continue to thrive alongside the development. Current evidence suggests even more roosts will be discovered in the coming years, demonstrating the success of Waterman’s long-term ecological strategies.

Want to learn more about the Graven Hill project? Click here for the full story.

Find out more about our ecology team and the work we do by visiting this page.

The post Bats thrive at Graven Hill: Record roost numbers signal ecological success first appeared on Waterman.

Burnet Point

dbough — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:57:40 +0000

Burnet Point: A £59m mixed-use landmark in Edinburgh

Burnet Point stands as a testament to innovative urban living in Edinburgh. Unite’s ambitious £59 million mixed-use residential development combines purpose-built student accommodation, build-to-rent (BTR) apartments, and affordable housing – all within a single, integrated scheme.

Located in the city centre, Burnet Point offers residents direct access to Edinburgh’s vibrant amenities, cultural landmarks, and excellent transport links. The development provides 298 student bedrooms, available as cluster flats and studios, to meet the needs of a diverse student population. In addition, 66 one-, two-, and three-bedroom BTR apartments offer flexible, high-quality living for professionals and families. The scheme also delivers 17 affordable homes, reinforcing a commitment to inclusive, mixed-community development. Residents also benefit from thoughtfully designed communal spaces, both indoor and outdoor including landscaped roof terraces with green spaces and panoramic views of the Edinburgh skyline.

Designed by architects AMA Studio and CDA, the scheme responds to the city’s evolving residential needs while enhancing the local urban landscape. The development was delivered by GRAHAM Building and saw Waterman’s team support the project in a Technical Advisor role on client Unite’s side, working across RIBA Stages 3 to 6. Our input has been critical in guiding the scheme from developed design through to delivery – ensuring technical quality, coordination, and long-term value.

Sustainability has been central to Burnet Point’s design, with low-carbon concrete and timber composite materials featured throughout. Carbon lifecycle assessments show that Burnet Point has a carbon footprint of 702 kgCO₂e/m².

The post Burnet Point first appeared on Waterman.

Planning approval granted for major Kennington student living scheme

lrichards — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 14:52:51 +0000

Planning approval has been granted for Unite Students’ 6-12 Kennington Lane student living scheme in Kennington, London. The London Borough of Lambeth reached a unanimous decision, allowing Stage 3 works to begin.

The approved plans involve demolition of the existing buildings to create a mixed-use development featuring industrial and community spaces across ground and mezzanine levels, with purpose-built student accommodation above. The scheme will provide 511 high-quality student bedrooms, including 177 affordable (35%) and 26 wheelchair-accessible rooms. Accommodation options are placed in a mix of clusters in varying in sizes with shared kitchens and individual studios. The industrial spaces have the option of being utilised as self-storage or a fulfilment centre, while a new community space will support local groups and service providers.

The development will rise to a maximum of 15 storeys with a drop down to 13 storeys towards Elephant and Castle, and then down to seven storeys to the rear of the building to minimise the visual impact to neighbouring residents. This site is ideally located between Elephant and Castle and Kennington stations which will provide students with excellent transport links.

Inspired by LDA Design’s landscaping and public realm scheme, outdoor facilities include landscaped areas, a widened pedestrian footpath, and specific green places that people can use to relax. Allford Hall Monaghan Morris’ (AHMM’s) architectural design focuses on wellbeing, and offers generous amenity spaces for learning and socialising, including a gym/studio.

Our building services and sustainability teams provided the Energy, Circular Economy, Whole Life Carbon, Pre-Redevelopment and Pre-Demolition Audits, BREEAM, Overheating, and Sustainability Statement. In addition, our specialists provided the Site Waste Management Plan for the scheme.

To find out how we’re helping unlock the potential of student living schemes across the UK, head to our living spaces webpage by clicking here.

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