Wilmslow Park

Embarking on an ambitious refurbishment

In the spring of 2015, we embarked on the ambitious refurbishment of Wilmslow Park, a purpose built student accommodation consisting of 1,002 rooms, putting students at the heart of its redevelopment and creating an excellent environment for students to live in. Key objectives of the refurbishment were to create a site with facilities more closely reflecting the needs of its residents, upgrade the property, its 1,000+ rooms, reception, onsite amenities and on-street presence, all with minimal impact on residents and the community.

What we did

Facing structural damage, a dated interior design and restricted configuration, the project began with the refurbishment of nearly 400 en suite rooms, using modern colour schemes and laminate flooring throughout. Kitchens and living room areas were equipped with microwaves, ovens, dishwashers and wide screen televisions. A gaming area - complete with table tennis, a pool table and games consoles - was created, as well as the development of the outdoor space to include a basketball court. 

Brand new communal facilities were made available to all, including a fully-equipped gym and study rooms. Prior to the refurbishment, the property was accessed via a side road or through the car park ramp. This was reconfigured giving tenants an improved entrance to the building. All works were delivered with minimal impact on residents and the community, whilst maintaining sufficient amenities for residents throughout.

Results

Refurbished to an extremely high standard, Wilmslow Park is now a premier property. The works addressed the needs of residents including the overhaul of rooms and studios, resulting in high quality, standout rooms - many of which sold out within weeks of launch. The reconfigured entrance created a light, airy and welcoming atrium more suited to busy checkin days and regular social events.

The refurbishment of the site has made a positive contribution to the iQ portfolio, with both the project and site teams contributing to a unique characterful feel. The site quickly sold out for the 2016/17 academic year.

The scheme has been awarded the International Accommodation Quality Mark, after receiving more than 90% positive reviews in the National Student Housing Survey 2016. It is also a Manchester Student Homes Accredited Halls of Residence. In addition, Wilmslow Park is a specially selected student accommodation provider to the Manchester Metropolitan University and the INTO International School.