Development of 133 Student Bedsits, together with Ancillary Accommodation, Upper Quay Street, Gloucester. The Partners: Signpost Homes Ltd., University of Gloucestershire and Halsall Construction Ltd

The University of Gloucestershire had called in Signpost Homes as a preferred supplier to help them facilitate the building of new (and much-needed) student accommodation in Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Halsall’s ‘site finding’ skills are well known to Signpost Homes and as a consequence, we were asked to help find suitable redevelopment sites.

Owing to its poor ground conditions and underlying archaeology – which was of great national importance - the Upper Quay Street site had remained derelict for many years. Numerous residential developers had inspected and appraised the site only to walk away. Halsall did not.

Alongside our Design team, we came up with an innovative solution of constructing the proposed three and four storey buildings using light weight construction, i.e., timber frame, built off an inverted raft foundation arrangement. The aim of which was to ensure that we didn’t disturb the all-important underlying archaeology. Another key part of this challenging project was the infilling between two existing buildings whilst retaining a Grade II listed facade.

The entire development has received significant media coverage and is a flagship scheme for both Signpost Homes and the University of Gloucestershire.