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Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the Castle Leazes student accommodation scheme in Newcastle upon Tyne for Unite Students and Newcastle University.
Gateway 2 approval has been secured from the Building Safety Regulator for the £274 million project which will see the replacement of the original 1960’s 1,250-bed accommodation, with 2,009 high-quality, affordable student rooms.
The development, designed by architect, NORR, will prioritise communal spaces, encouraging greater interaction and a sense of community among students, with rooms distributed across a series of two to nine-storey blocks.
The project will split into two phases, the first will deliver 788 beds in time for occupancy at the start of the 2028/29 academic year, the remaining rooms will be completed in phase two and ready for the 2029/30 student intake.
Bowmer + Kirkland has an impressive track-record working with Unite Students and Newcastle University, delivering 3,000 rooms in numerous projects nationwide for the student accommodation provider. For Newcastle University, B+K has delivered the Stephenson Building which was awarded National Project of the Year in the RICS National Awards 2025, The Catalyst and the Urban Sciences Building.
North East + Scotland Regional Director for Bowmer + Kirkland, Ed Besford, said: “Castle Leazes is a landmark redevelopment project, we are delighted to be supporting our long-standing clients Unite Students and Newcastle University to deliver a high-quality project that meets and exceeds the design and sustainability standards set.
“Our team worked hard to support the Gateway 2 process, ensuring that the development meets the safety requirements and we are pleased to have been given the green light, with the approval marking Bowmer + Kirkland’s third approval from regulator in six months.”
Bowmer + Kirkland began the demolition and enabling works in June 2024, since then, the company has delivered the equivalent of £9.6m in social value at this early stage, employing and spending locally, carrying out community and charity initiatives and providing training and work experience for local people.
Ends
Bowmer + Kirkland has announced a new sponsorship partnership with Derbyshire County FA, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to supporting local grassroots football across the county.
Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K) has announced that it will be supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) as its official charity partner for the next two years, committing to raise vital funds to support young people facing cancer across the UK through a wide range of fundraising initiatives.
A topping out ceremony has been held at Glenbrook’s latest build-to-rent scheme, Regency Works in Leeds.
Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K) will host its first fringe event alongside UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in May 2026, inviting clients, investors and industry partners to connect during the UK’s leading real estate and infrastructure gatherings.
First aid colleagues across two live Bowmer + Kirkland projects have successfully completed a specialist Tower Crane Emergency First Responder training course, enhancing our teams’ ability to respond to emergencies in some of the most challenging environments on site.
