The Pastures - Bouygues UK

Bouygues UK played a pivotal role in the development and delivery of The Pastures; our involvement was multifaceted, encompassing financing, construction, operations, and strategic planning.

£98

million

1262

new student bedrooms

The Pastures, phase 3 of the University of Essex’s student accommodation scheme saw 1,262 new bedroom accommodation successfully built with the whole project completed for the start of the 2023/24 academic year.

The agreement to design, build, finance and operate was signed off by the University of Essex and Uliving (now Bouygues UK) at Essex3 LLP, a joint venture including investment partners Equitix, leading global investor, developer and fund manager, (80%) and Bouygues UK (20%). Bouygues UK also delivered the construction contract while our sister company, Equans is currently operating the residences for 50 years following their practical completion.

This successful partnership, following the completion in 2013 of Phase 1, The Meadows (648 bedrooms) and Phase 2, The Copse in 2018 (643 bedrooms), with our established and returning client is proof of a continuous, robust performance delivered by our teams to the University’s expectations and requirements.

Built on an undeveloped plot of land adjacent to the Meadows, this vibrant and impressive scheme features a combination of 285 affordable rooms, 919 en-suite bedrooms and 58 studios set across five new buildings.

The project also comprises a new hub building including reception, post room, administrative area and student services centre along with a laundrette and staff welfare facilities. The building uses air source heat pumps, a sustainable alternative to traditional heating, one of its many drivers for a sustainable scheme meetings the University’s brief.

Bouygues UK managed the entire planning process, submitting an application to Colchester Borough Council in August 2019. The project faced several hurdles, including queries from Historic England and Colchester Borough Council (CBC), which required amendments to the design. These changes included adjusting building heights, reconfiguring room placements, and enhancing architectural details to meet aesthetic and safety standards. In line with the planning requirements Bouygues UKt repositioned the original Block B to avoid encroachment on protected areas and adjusted Block C to increase room capacity while respecting site constraints.

Taking into account the University’s social strategy for the scheme, Bouygues UK focused on a design which would foster a strong sense of community, ensuring a first-class student experience. Recognising that most residents would be first-year undergraduates, the strategy emphasised social integration and community-building across the 3,500-bed complex, which includes The Quays and The Meadows.

Key elements of the strategy included designing kitchen spaces as the social hub of each flat, encouraging students to cook, eat, relax, and socialise together. Essential services like laundry, reception, and post facilities have been made easily accessible, promoting convenience. Retail outlets focus on meeting students’ day-to-day needs, while larger social and recreational facilities are located centrally to draw students into the heart of the community.

Bouygues UK also created outside spaces for activities and socialising, not just as decorative areas but as integral parts of the community experience. Additionally, study spaces are provided beyond individual rooms, offering environments for both quiet and group study.

CHALLENGES

From the outset of the project negotiated procurement route, the client made clear their objective of a contract sum that had to be controlled. Throughout the project, our team implemented strategies to manage the contract sum effectively by prioritising buildability proposals, effective procurement capitalising on our supply chain previously contracted on phases 1 and 2 and value management proposals offering cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.

While meeting client requirements and the vision for the accommodation, this approach ensured that the project remained on track despite exceptionally challenging inflationary conditions.

Furthermore, as all our student accommodation schemes need to be delivered in time for the start of the academic year, meeting the client’s timescale was another primary objective.

Despite challenges, including an unstable labour market we proactively addressed all potential delays well in advance of them occurring by swiftly implementing mitigation strategies, thereby keeping the project on track.

Key evidence is our mitigation measure to self-deliver the concrete frame and other work packages, a “trademark” of Bouygues UK’s effective performance. This strategic decision to self-deliver allowed better control of timing, quality and eliminated our reliance on the subcontractors’ labour market. We also extended the self-delivery approach to other trades, such as partitions, carpentry, furniture and external works.

Maintaining the desired pace and high standards showcased our determination to overcome challenges and ensure the success of the project.

Chris Oldham, University of Essex Deputy Registrar (Infrastructure and Environments) said:

We are delighted to be offering this fabulous new student residential accommodation at our Colchester Campus. The new development provides a range of high-quality accommodation choices, which is key to students enjoying a positive living and learning experience on our campus.

Oliver Campbell, Development Director at Linkcity and CEO of Uliving said:

Despite the post-pandemic challenges to supply chains that we faced, we maintained the fast pace of progress on the project, delivering 1,262 high-quality student bedrooms in two years.

The completed project showcases our ability to design, build, finance, and operate student accommodation, and couldn’t have been achieved without the close collaboration among all partners.