The Copse – University of Essex

Colchester

The Copse marked a further scheme under Bouygues UK’s partnership with the University of Essex to upgrade its student accommodation offering, having already worked together with investment partner Equitix on developments at the university.

Bouygues UK had already completed refurbishment works to 780 existing bedrooms as part of The Quays and delivered 648 new student bedrooms as part of The Meadows. The new phase, The Copse, links in with the previous buildings and is the latest addition to the University’s Knowledge Gateway, a research and Technology park at its Colchester Campus.

The Copse is located on a greenfield site, and offers 621 en-suite bedrooms, 2 accessible rooms and 20 studios, housed in two buildings varying in height from six to seven storeys. In additional to the accommodation, it also houses a student laundry, facilities management offices, storage for over 200 bicycles, and car parking.

The buildings were designed in accordance with the University of Essex’s masterplan and the Borough Council’s Urban Design Framework. The project had very challenging timescales, with just over a year to develop and handover the accommodation to the University. Key to achieving these was the successful collaboration of all partners and the commitment and expertise of everyone involved.

Sustainability and Facilities Management

The approach to sustainability flowed throughout construction and continues into operation. Bouygues UK used sustainable construction techniques such as recycled shuttering, through to the incorporation of energy efficient fittings and water recycling systems, with day to day minimisation of waste achieved through careful management of site activities.

With the facilities management for The Copse awarded to Bouygues UK’s sister company Equans, it means that the facilities management team on the ground are able to maximise the level of residual waste that can be recycled. The FM team, working alongside the university and student union, have contributed to greatly-improved levels of satisfaction through the implementation of targeted initiatives.

With the University of Essex an increasingly popular place to study, providing a first-rate living and learning experience is a key priority for us. High-quality, purpose-built on-campus accommodation is at the heart of that and we’re pleased to be able to welcome residents of The Copse to their new homes.

Chris Oldham, Director of Campus Services, University of Essex