ENGIE will oversee the delivery of 1,164 new student homes across seven blocks, the refurbishment of a grade II listed building (to be used as office and study space), the construction of a 500-space multi-storey carpark and the creation of a new 9,000m² teaching and learning centre. This will be followed by a 50-year hard facilities management contract, which will support the day-to-day lives of the students by providing technical services, estates management and external cleaning for the new residences, as well enabling high-speed Wi-Fi and IT services to ensure the best experience for occupants. ENGIE will also deliver lifecycle management to the residences, which incorporates infrastructure replacement right through to internal components.
Martin Smithurst, Divisional Chief Operating Officer for ENGIE’s Places & Communities Division (North), said: “This is a prime project for ENGIE, as it’s one of the few occasions where we get to showcase our broad capabilities in placemaking. These contracts not only allow us to demonstrate our expertise across energy, services and regeneration; but provides us with the opportunity to apply our long-term investment model, by taking an equity stake in the scheme. This assures our partners and students of our long-term commitment to Leicester and its university. We have delivered several similar higher education projects across the country and we’re delighted to be working with the University of Leicester, as well as Equitix, on such a remarkable scheme that will create a lasting legacy in Leicester.”
Jake Fellows, Major Projects Director and project lead at ENGIE, added: “Working collaboratively with the University, Equitix and the wider stakeholder group, including funders and the City Council, we have been able to effectively design and mobilise this extremely exciting project. This development will deliver a significant regeneration of the Freemens Common site, providing market-leading accommodation for the University to support their recruitment strategy, as well as demonstrating the capability and experience of our team and supply chain to respond to complex projects of this nature.”
Martyn Riddleston, Chief Financial Officer for the University of Leicester, said: “The Freemen’s Common development is an exciting and important project for the University that will enable us to continue to deliver the best experience for our students. We are delighted to be working with ENGIE and Equitix to deliver the project.”
Ben Leech, Director for Equitix, said: “Achieving financial and contractual close for Freemen’s Common represents the culmination of two years of dialogue with the University of Leicester and the wider local stakeholder group. We are delighted to be embarking on this exciting project, which demonstrates our continued capability in the higher education market.”
