Nido zeroes in on Lancaster opening

On behalf of joint venture developers HIG Realty Partners and Primus, the student living specialist has launched the 388-bed Sail Works scheme in Lancaster ahead of September.

PBSA operator Nido was appointed in 2023 on the project, having built up a 17-year track record in the sector.

Nido said that the Sail Works “aims to set a new bar for PBSA in the area”. Tim Groom Architects has designed the project. Maslow Capital is providing £32m funding, also backing a Leeds project by the same partnership with a further £36m.

The name of the scheme is a nod to the site’s heritage, which was previously used to make sails, supporting the nearby riverside shipyards.

The partners said that the Sail Works is a “highly insulated building” with low G-value glazing, efficient water consuming sanitary and shower ware, low energy MVHR ventilation, and renewable technologies including roof PV panels and air source heat pumps.

Amenities include co-working spaces, a fully-equipped gym, a yoga and dance studio, study and meeting rooms, a cinema room, games room, laundry room and private gardens.

• BOOK NOW: Revitalising our Town and City Centres 2025

Darren Gardner, chief operating officer of Nido Living, said: “The UK student accommodation market continues to be undersupplied, with an acute lack of the type of professionally managed and design-oriented homes that residents demand. Lancaster is a hugely popular student location with both the University of Cumbria and The University of Lancaster on the doorstep and other higher education institutions nearby.”

Gardner continued: “The scheme will set a new standard for student accommodation in the area with its wellbeing focus, high quality design, amenities and services and we are excited to welcome our first cohort of students to bring the community alive.”

Duncan Melville, director at Primus Property Group, said: “Nido is an award-winning European PBSA operator who has raised the bar in student accommodation management and experience, and we’re excited to leverage their track record and brand for our assets in Lancaster and Leeds.

“Early engagement with Nido in the development of the schemes has helped us integrate both technology and sustainable design in a way that delivers a positive impact for the students who will be living in our buildings. A key part of our asset management plan is to have fun, inclusive, and community-oriented spaces with a friendly and trusted team on the ground 24/7 for our student community, and we are delighted Nido represents all of this at The Sail Works.”

To date, Nido has developed and managed more than 19,000 student accommodation and co-living beds in the UK and Europe. In 2024, Nido Living was acquired by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.