Work commences on new 649-bed York student village

Construction work is now underway at the Vita Student Village in York, which will see the former site of St Joseph’s Convent restored into student accommodation, creating a brand new student village in the city.

Global developer Select Property Group, which owns the development, will renovate the convent buildings into social spaces which will include private study rooms, expansive lounge areas, private dining rooms, a movie room and state-of-the-art gym.

In addition to the convent restoration, an additional 14, three and four-storey buildings will be constructed on the 6.3 acre site, creating a student village with a total of 649 beds.

The campus-style development features landscaped grounds, including outdoor seating areas and the retention of a communal orchard. Yielding two tonnes of fruit a year, the orchard will form a focal point of the development with new buildings named after the pears, apples and plums it grows.

The York scheme will operate under Select’s Vita Student brand, the UK’s only experience-led student accommodation provider.

Mark Oakes, chief commercial officer of Select Property Group, said: “A great deal of time and attention has been put into designing a home for students in York that retains the character and charm of the former convent, while offering superb facilities, communal areas and social spaces.

“We’ve worked closely with the Diocese, planning officers and Historic England to ensure that the design and development of the site is sympathetic and in keeping with its long-standing heritage in York. It will be a stunning, one-of-a-kind residence ideally located in the heart of the city and we can’t wait to open the doors.”

The appointed contractor is national firm Wates Construction and the site is scheduled for completion in August 2017.