Expertise in Large Scale Estate Transfers
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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME CASE STUDY: UNIVERSITY OF READING Expertise in large scale estate transfers University of Reading: A sector leading partnership and provision of campus wide student accommodation. Overview of our partnership with the University of Reading We originally entered into partnership of an additional 3,505 rooms to UPP Furthermore, in 2014, we built with the University of Reading in 2000. in a 125 year partnership. Bridges Hall, a new accomodation Following this initial transaction, which facility offering an additional 649 included the construction of 391 rooms This transaction represents the high quality rooms in a mixture at Benyon Hall, we built St George’s largest ever single estate transfer of cluster flats and townhouses. Hall, comprising of a further 425 within the higher education sector. rooms in 2003. Importantly, it enables the University To date, we have invested a total to concentrate its finances and of £276 million in creating the very It was during 2011, and a testament energies on its core business going best student experiences at the to the strength of our relationship, forward, while fully transferring University of Reading through the that the University transferred its entire the demand risk and operational delivery of exceptional residential student residential estate, comprising management to UPP. infrastructure together with specialist support services. Bridges Hall, University of Reading CASE STUDY: UNIVERSITY OF READING Sourcing the most cost effective Ensuring long term sustainability funding solution in everything we do In 2011, to help secure the most favourable funding As part of the estate transfer, we committed to assist terms in a challenging economic climate, as well as the University in meeting its Higher Education Funding providing the long term risk transfer required by the Council for England target to reduce carbon emissions University of Reading, we designed an innovative and cost across the campus by 30% by 2015. This included an effecting funding structure. This market leading estate extensive programme of works to the residential estate transfer was the first of its type for Aviva within the higher to increase energy efficiency, including double glazed education sector and the first to structure a concession windows, additional insulation and sub-metering of 125 years. to monitor energy usage. Delivering specialist support services Green initiatives are jointly promoted with the University’s Green Team to support environmental and When the University transferred its entire estate to UPP, energy targets. These initiatives resulted in a reduction in we took responsibility for the provision of all hard and water consumption of 20% and 50% less waste being sent soft facilities management services, most notably the to landfill and contributed to achieving the University’s University’s accommodation office and a 24/7 student carbon reduction targets. hotline. The hotline provides an accessible service that allows students to report any query relating to In response to the University’s requirements to provide accommodation, regardless of whether UPP or the sustainable rents and a greater choice of accommodation, University are responsible for responding to the request. we worked collaboratively with the University to develop a wide variety of efficient layouts, including a new offering We undertake the marketing of the accommodation under of cluster flats with shared facilities. the University’s brand, as well as dealing with allocation of the rooms and managing demand more generally. We have achieved 100% occupancy every academic year since assuming operational control in 2012/13. Other large scale estate transfers • 2,327 rooms at Nottingham Trent University (2002) • 1,559 rooms at Leeds Beckett University (2005) • Phased transfer and redevelopment of 4,347 rooms • 787 rooms at Plymouth University (2006) at Lancaster University (2003) • 304 rooms at the University of York (2007) • 1,120 rooms at the University of Nottingham (2003) • 621 rooms at the University of Exeter (2009) Our University of Reading partnership in numbers Number of rooms: Total = 4,970 Benyon Hall (2000) 391 (New build) St George’s Hall (2003) 425 (New build) Estate Transfer (2011) 3,505 Bridges Hall (2014) 649 (New build) Investment £276 million Length of partnership 125 years Hard and soft FM services, including 24 hour helpdesk and accommodation office function 135 University employees transferred to UPP in January 2012.