Uni confirm large student development plan with lack of local housing “exacerbated by the lack of affordable HMOs”

New student accommodation plans signals “invigorating” growth for Wrexham University and the city, the institution has said.

It comes after plans were unveiled to provide an additional 300 student beds on the Plas Coch Campus.

This, the university says, is “to help alleviate pressure off the private rental market, as well as allow the institution to grow and meet its long-term student recruitment ambitions.”

The Uni said they ‘announced’ the plan in recent days – although it was first spotted on a procurement system by Wrexham.com and then our readers informed.

Two days later a press release from the Uni has confirmed the new purpose-built student accommodation will be built within the Plas Coch campus.

It comes as student numbers are expected to rise at the university, which already “grew from 8,416 for the 2021-2022 academic year to 9,055 for 2022-2023 – and in 2023/24,.”

As a result “the institution experienced unprecedented demand for accommodation.”

According to Wrexham University the contract is for the initial design and planning approval of the scheme, with a second procurement exercise set to take place afterwards that will comprise of more detailed design, building, and financing of the project.

Lynda Powell, Executive Director of Operations at Wrexham University, said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to study and live in Wrexham – and as a result, increased awareness of the city, our University and the courses we provide has meant growth in our student numbers, as well as increased demand for accommodation.

“Whilst this demand is most welcome, it has been exacerbated by the lack of affordable houses of muti-occupancy within the private sector in Wrexham, so this planned accommodation will help ease some of that pressure off the local rental market.

“Therefore, it is essential that we as an institution strategically reassess our accommodation provision to support the recruitment and retention of students, which in turn will allow us to continue to grow and meet our longer-term ambitions.

“This planned new accommodation signals an invigorating period of growth for not only us as an institution but also Wrexham as Wales’ newest city.”

The uni added: “This planned scheme forms part of the University’s ongoing £80million Campus 2025 masterplan, which aims to enhance the local region and its campuses to ensure students have state-of-the-art learning environment and facilities.”

Paul Moran, Capital Projects Manager at Wrexham University, added: “We’re hopeful that local businesses take us up on this exciting opportunity to design modern and welcoming accommodation that our students will want to live in.

“We will want our chosen contractor to deliver a design solution which is fit for purpose, future-proofed with environmental performance considered throughout.”

Businesses interested in tendering for the opportunity can check out the earlier announcement by the university in recent days. The deadline for this tender is 18 October.