Liverpool’s Downing to expand London student property portfolio

North West student accommodation provider Downing is expanding its Southern property portfolio with a new tower development in London.

The Liverpool-headquartered firm secured planning consent for a 424-bed scheme next to North Acton station.

The 24-storey site will be Downing’s second student building in North Acton, as the company already owns and operates the 209-bed Lyra building on nearby Portal Way.

To be known as Holbrook House, the project is designed by architects SimpsonHaugh and Partners and located in the Mayor of London’s Old Oak & Park Royal Opportunity Area.

The building’s taller element will be clad in a glass rain screen system, with the back face of the floor-to-floor glass panels painted in different colours to form a rich pattern over the façade, according to Downing.

Existing bedsits, maisonettes and retail space on-site will be demolished to make way for the Holbrook House development.

Downing’s development director, Paul Houghton, said: “We welcome the decision taken by members of Ealing Planning Committee to approve our plans to redevelop Holbrook House.

“The proposals for the site demonstrate our commitment to delivering high-quality, well-designed student accommodation schemes in London and will go some way to tackling the huge shortfall of student beds in the capital.”

He continued: “The site represents a significant investment in North Acton, building on our exciting development, The Lyra building.”

“We now look forward to working with Ealing Council, the GLA and the local community to get the accommodation delivered, so that we can welcome new students to the area as quickly as possible.”

Matthew Ayres, a partner at Manchester-based SimpsonHaugh and Partners, commented: “In designing this new student accommodation with Downing, we had a responsibility to create a high quality landmark building which responded to both the ambitions for Old Oak & Park Royal Opportunity Area and the site’s immediate surroundings.

“We’ve achieved this through creating a colourful and visually interesting façade as well as through a three block form which rises in scale from west to east.”