ISG adds £46.5 million Sheffield win to growing tally with Fusion Students

A future look at projects for Fusion Students in Sheffield (left) and Swansea (right)

ISG has been appointed to its second high-value student accommodation scheme for Fusion Students this year, successfully converting a £46.5 million project in Sheffield to add to a £39 million development in Swansea the contractor secured earlier this year. These wins bring the total volume of work ISG has either won or delivered this year, for the premium student accommodation provider, to over £150 million.

Over the summer period, ISG successfully delivered the £40 million Zenith student residences in Cardiff and concluded the final phase of a £26 million mixed-use hotel and student residences scheme in Hatfield.

In Sheffield, ISG has completed an extensive ground engineering and site remediation programme ahead of the construction of the four-block, 864-unit student accommodation scheme in the heart of the city centre. Occupying an under-used site on Fitzwilliam Street, construction has now commenced on the concrete base build structure, which sees a graduated profile for the four student blocks, ranging in height from 17-storey’s through to six-storey’s at its lowest elevation

Providing a range of different accommodation configurations, including self-contained studios and linked studios – that share an entrance and kitchen facilities, the Sheffield scheme incorporates a host of high-end communal amenities across the ground and mezzanine levels, including a cinema, gym, break out areas, bar and private banqueting facilities. Externally, an attractive and landscaped courtyard area, includes a basketball court, with the building handed over in summer 2021.

The multi-level ‘cluster and studio campus’ scheme in Swansea for 780 students includes a 17-storey, 60 m tower, that will become the city’s second tallest building on completion. The striking tower, with distinctive cladding, will provide a home from home for 230 students, with a further 550 students accommodated within the surrounding six to eight storey brick-clad structures. The scheme also incorporates 20,000 sq ft of retail space, alongside a comprehensive range of study, social and community amenities for residents and will also complete ahead of the new academic year in 2021.

Tim Harvey, ISG regional director, commented: “Fusion Students is driving the transformation of the student accommodation market and setting the benchmark for aspirational living that clearly resonates with its customers. This is a relationship driven business and one that understands what’s important to its market, and there is a clear focus on combining high-quality living spaces with outstanding communal amenities providing a real home from home for residents.

“The Sheffield scheme is our fourth project for Fusion since 2017 and represents its largest and most ambitious development to date. The strength, expertise and consistency of our regional contracting business is a highly important factor in our ongoing partnership with Fusion as we look to support its future growth ambitions across major UK conurbations.”