Developers MRP and Vita Group submit new plans for a second Vita Student purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Birmingham. The city centre development on Gough Street will be an important site for the city, helping to accommodate Birmingham’s growing student population, which has grown by 22% in the last five academic years. This is above the UK average student population growth in major cities – which saw growth of 16% in the same period.
Proposal for the new scheme include 540 high quality student rooms and a range of amenities including a gym, dance studio, co-study spaces, social hub, games rooms and private dining rooms. The architecturally inspiring proposal, a result of extensive pre-application discussions with a range of stakeholders including Birmingham Planning Department, will encourage residents to reduce their carbon footprints by using bicycles throughout the city. Free to use bike hire along with 204 spaces to store bicycles has also been built into the design. Earmarked to commence on site in November 2022, the Gough Street scheme is scheduled to complete in 2025.
Vita Student Gough Street will be the second Vita Student offering in Birmingham city, building upon the successful operation at Pebble Mill site. It also extends Vita Group’s long-standing relationship with MRP, where both companies previously collaborated on Vita Student’s Cannon Park in Warwick which opens later this year.
“Vita Group has an outstanding reputation for creating best-in-class student residences through Vita Student, and we are looking forward to working with them again, on this landmark development that will help further develop the vibrant student community in Birmingham.
“MRP has a proven track record for delivering significant development projects across the UK & Ireland, including in Birmingham having recently completed the 1,025 bedroom visually striking Onyx scheme and we look forward to continuing our collaborative partnership with this great city through this latest Vita project.”
Graham Mitchell, Development Director, MRP
Designed to sit within its surroundings confidently, yet sensitively and sustainably on Gough Street and Suffolk Street Queensway, plans outline the scheme to include two blocks – a ten storey and 29 storey building. The development will include outdoor terraces and a rooftop outdoor area on level 29. The proposed roof terrace on level ten will include a bio-green roof garden on the Gough Street building with wildflower beds, crushed stone piles and stacked tree stems to encourage wildlife habitat creation.
“Vita Group already has an established relationship with MRP and we are looking forward to working with them again on this site in Birmingham. Vita Student Gough Street will provide the perfect opportunity to add to the vibrant community of students currently living near the Chinese Quarter, whilst helping alleviate some of the strain on the city brought by an increased student population.
“The plans aim to create best-in-class student accommodation with outstanding amenities and will help to attract students from not only in the UK but from across the world to Birmingham, due to the increased accessibility of higher standards of student residences.”
Mark Oakes, Chief Commercial Officer, Vita Group
