A former office building in Bath is set to be converted into more than 100 student bedrooms following an £8.4m redevelopment appointment by property investment firm Bathford Partners.
Watkin Jones' refurbishment and asset improvement division, Refresh, has been appointed to deliver the conversion of Grosvenor House, which is located close to Bath city centre and within easy reach of the city's universities.
The building will be transformed into purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), comprising more than 100 en-suite bedrooms arranged in cluster flats. Originally constructed in 1877 as part of a railway goods yard, the property will return to its former name, The Goods Yard.
Work is scheduled for completion ahead of the 2027/28 academic year.
The redevelopment will bring the vacant office building back into use through a programme of structural alterations and refurbishment. Plans include creating additional accommodation within the existing roof structure, installing new mechanical and electrical systems, upgrading the building envelope and improving the surrounding landscaped areas.
The scheme is targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating and an EPC A rating. Planned sustainability measures include solar panels, air source heat pumps and battery storage.
Bathford Partners, which was co-founded by former Get Living chief executive Neil Young, is also exploring further opportunities with Watkin Jones to reposition existing buildings and create institutional-grade assets.
Michael Bunyan, Group Development Director at Watkin Jones Group, said: "This appointment reflects the growing demand for projects that unlock value from existing assets through repositioning and repurposing."
"Grosvenor House is a strong example of how underutilised office space can be transformed into high-quality student accommodation in locations where demand remains strong, and we're pleased to be working with Bathford Partners to deliver the scheme."
Neil Young, Bathford Partners, said: "Within a year of acquiring Grosvenor House (reverting to its original name of The Goods Yard), planning has been granted and Watkin Jones have been appointed and are on site delivering an institutional grade asset. We are confident that the combined experience and knowledge within Bathford Partners and Watkin Jones will result in a market-leading scheme for students in Bath."
"We look forward to growing our investment portfolio, on behalf of our investors, and see Watkin Jones as a key delivery partner."
