Castle Leazes Student Village

Castle Leazes Student Village is poised to serve as a new gateway to Newcastle University, offering significant benefits to students and the environment alike. The development is targeting Net Zero Carbon in Operation: it will be entirely gas-free, utilizing electrification, onsite power generation and air source heat pumps for hot water generation. Overlooking the protected public green spaces of Leazes Moor and Leazes Park, featuring mature trees and cycling networks, the development will serve as a tranquil oasis bridging the gap between campus and city life. It is a compelling response to today’s student housing market that will enrich the student experience and stand as an example of sustainable design in higher education.

Our collaboration with joint venture partners Newcastle University and Unite Students—the UK’s largest student accommodation provider—was fueled by a shared vision to redefine student living. The clients’ aim to address the pressing need for additional high-quality student housing, a pervasive challenge across the UK and Europe. The goal is to replace an aging 1247-bed student residence (built in the 1960s as a catered accommodation site) with Castle Leazes—a new 2009-bed residence tailored to meet the needs of students today and tomorrow.

The development will offer a variety of spaces that support students through their academic journeys. Accommodation options will range from flats with ensuite rooms, kitchen and living spaces to larger suites for residents with accessibility requirements. The amenity-rich development will include a wide array of study and meeting spaces, onsite laundry, games and TV/cinema rooms, gym and bookable function rooms all complemented by 24-hour security surveillance.

As Lead Architect, our team conceived a mini-campus concept characterized by a central pedestrian street view and a network of inviting courtyard spaces designed to foster a sense of community among the students. Dividing the large-scale development into smaller clusters will result in an intimate townhouse ambiance. Brick-clad buildings spanning four to nine stories will enhance the overall livability and capitalize on the site’s unique location with coveted vistas of the moor, city and campus. In this way, the project will achieve its vision of cultivating a strong sense of community among the student residents, respecting the surrounding landscape and strengthening connections with the city center nearby.