University of Derby Student Accommodation

To help manage the work and keep the programme on track, the client and site teams carefully planned the subcontractors and sequence of works. This included a phased delivery approach, with a floor being handed over to the client each week. As well as providing greater time and cost certainties, this approach allowed the site team to identify and resolve any snagging in a timely manner – which ultimately resulted in the project handing over defect free. It also provided early access to inspect and prepare the rooms in time for the returning students starting the new September term.

With both accommodation buildings located less than 100 metres apart, the project was able to benefit from a shared and central site office and project team. The team also worked closely with the university’s estate team and appointed architect practice, Lungfish Architects, to ensure the work was completed to the highest standards, with the project receiving a quality score of 9/10 from the client.

Morgan Sindall has long recognised the importance of social value with its Intelligent Solutions approach seeking to create unique, sustainable, and inspiring places. Following its appointment on the SCAPE Construction Framework, the contractor pledged to achieve a minimum of 30% return on Social Value on all its SCAPE projects. The site team at Darley Bank and Peak Court exceeded this even further however by achieving an impressive 52.6% return, ensuring more than £1 million of the project spend was reinvested within the local area.

This was accomplished, in part, by ensuring the workforce and subcontractors used on site were from the surrounding area. In total, 67.8% of the labour was based within 20 miles of the project, while 88.3% of the project value was spent with small to medium businesses in the local area. Four Social Enterprises – whose primary purposes are to try to readdress social or environmental imbalances within the construction industry – were also appointed on the project.

Looking to go beyond the build, the project team also collected items for a food bank and hosted a Harvest Breakfast Community Engagement Event in partnership with the local church and the University of Derby. The event invited anyone in the local area who was in need and provided them with a hot meal/drink as well as suitable clothing and sleeping bags for the colder months.