Leading student accommodation developer, Berkeley First, has exchanged contracts with Imperial College London to develop a 659-bed student
accommodation scheme in West London. The agreement, worth in excess of £60 million, represents the third partnership between Berkeley First and Imperial, following the successful development of Griffon Studios in Battersea and Orient House in Chelsea, both of which completed
in 2012.
The 1.3 acre West London site is located two minutes’ walk from North Acton tube station on the central line in zone 2, providing good access to Imperial’s campuses and the rest of London. Five major bus routes are also within walking distance whilst Acton mainline will form one of the new high speed stations when Cross Rail is launched in 2018. Heathrow will be 18 minutes away and Paddington, 9 minutes, particularly attractive for overseas students. Rising to 19 storeys, the flagship new development will provide an outstanding contemporary student village. In addition to the 592 en suites and 66 studios, the development will provide lounges with Skype pods and digital docking stations, a coffee shop, restaurant, bar and gym.
Other options being considered for the communal space include a print shop, cinema, newsagent, chemist, study centres, lab space and Student Union
space. Development will commence in March 2013 and is due for completion in summer 2015. Imperial College London will ownand operate the accommodation for its undergraduate students, providing them with the opportunity to experience the high standard of facilities and access to the varied social programme and pastoral care infrastructure.
Simon Harding-Roots, Chief Operations Officer at Imperial College London, said: “The quality and design of this development will be outstanding and will set the standard for the next generation of student accommodation in London. It presents a great opportunity to provide a large portion of the College’s student bed requirement, delivering excellent value for money for our students. This dynamic student hub will truly reflect the world-class standards of Imperial as we continue to invest in enhancing our students’ experience.”
Matthew Biddle, Managing Director of Berkeley First, commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Imperial College again on this newlandmark student scheme, which will be tailored to the specific requirements of Imperial’s undergraduates. Our focus will once again be on delivering exceptional quality and bespoke design, at attainable rents.”
One Victoria Road is the second student scheme developed in North Acton by Berkeley First, following the launch of The Costume Store, a 730-bed scheme delivered in partnership with University of The Arts, London in September 2012. By 2015, over 2,000 student beds will have been delivered in the area, confirming its status as a dynamic new student hub in West London.