Future Generation, a Southern Grove company, has secured planning permission for a state-of-the-art student accommodation scheme in Guildford.
Guilden Park – on the site of Guildford College’s former technical and construction school – will include 527 high-quality bedrooms, Future Generation’s signature sky lounge, and, through a partnership with Les Mills, an on-demand fitness boutique.
The scheme will feature the latest technology provided through Future Generation’s exclusive partnership with Samsung, with students enjoying air conditioning, the latest Samsung kitchen appliances, wi-fi, virtual reality headsets, access to state-of-the-art mobile phones, and one of the first Samsung LED cinema screens in the UK.
Planning permission was granted by Guildford Borough Council on 9 November, with work on the scheme expected to start in 2019 completing in time for the 2021 academic year.
Andrew Southern, Chairman, Future Generation said: “There has long been a crisis in the provision of student housing in Guildford. Rents in the private sector are among the highest in the country with demand far out-stripping supply. Students in Guildford are in need for good accommodation.
“Guilden Park received the full support of the University of Surrey, Guildford College and the Students’ Union, which was recognised by planning inspectors when granting permission. Our scheme will provide the much-needed increase in quality student accommodation in Guildford as highlighted in the recent University of Surrey Students’ Union ‘Living at the Limit’ campaign.”
Future Generation was advised by planning consultants Montagu Evans.
Future Generation also has schemes under development in Sheffield, Colchester, Nottingham, Loughborough, Leeds, Cambridge, Bristol and London with 10,000 beds across 25 locations planned over the next five years.
It also acquired its first European student housing scheme in November this year – a 600-bed student accommodation scheme on the site of the old Coca Cola bottling plant in Cork, Ireland – with further European schemes to follow.
Future Generation, a joint venture between Southern Grove and Tadhamon Capital, is enhancing the student experience by changing the way students live and interact with each other. Its student accommodation schemes are architecturally led offering a mix of bed space and public areas that include sky lounges, on-roof sports facilities and platforms for networking.
In October 2018, Future Generation’s approach was recognised by trade magazine Property Week, which shortlisted the firm for its ‘Innovation of the Year’ award at the annual Student Accommodation Conference and Awards.
