Alumno’s £24m project to develop purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) on Dogpool Lane in Birmingham receives funding in a partnership with Woh Hup Holdings Limited – one of Singapore’s largest construction businesses.
The focus of Woh Hup’s investment at Dogpool Lane is a new 24-hour managed residence designed to accommodate the growing number of students attending local universities and a dental hospital, taking pressure off private housing in the area. The new scheme will provide homes for 167 residents, and include a mix of cluster beds and single occupancy studio rooms. The development also include a reception and communal areas.
“We believe high-quality purpose-built student accommodation in the UK offers great opportunities to investors. We excited to be partnering with Alumno, an outstanding and pioneering developer specialising in this area, and look forward to growing the relationship.”
Phil Johnson at Woh Hup
Glenn Howells Architects, a regular partner of Alumno will design the Dogpool Lane PBSA building, which will comprise brickwork and terracotta detailing, referencing local materials while also providing a new identity for the building. Alumno plans to have the new building completed for the 2024 student in-take.
The Dogpool Lane scheme will provide an improved retail space on the site for the existing Post Office and newsagent, which will be relocated close by during construction. In line with Alumno’s philosophy of adding value to the local community adjacent to its developments and working with local artists, there will be an enhanced public area in front of the building, which will include landscaping, seating and cycle stands.
This space will feature public art, including a poetry garden created through an initiative led by Birmingham Poet Laureate Casey Bailey in partnership with the Ikon Gallery, Writing West Midlands and pupils of the neighbouring Selly Park Girls School. Another local creative talent, emerging artist Betsey Bradley, has also been commissioned to design a sculpture for the courtyard of the new building.
“I’m delighted that we have secured funding from Woh Hup for this project, which will provide an economic boost to local businesses and deliver much needed accommodation for Birmingham’s growing student population.”
“As with all our developments, we have worked closely with the surrounding community and local authority to ensure the scheme enhances this vibrant area.”
David Campbell, Managing Director, Alumno
Founded 95 years ago, Woh Hup has previously invested in a variety of UK developments. Woh Hup has ongoing PBSA developments in York, London and Bristol – with more in the pipeline.
In 2020, Woh Hup in partnership with Metro Holdings and Lee Kim Tah, launched Paideia Capital UK Trust to acquire completed UK-based PBSA assets. Since inception, Padeia has acquired sites in Warwick, Bristol, Glasgow, Exeter, Durham and London.
