GMI ԭ Group has started work on a major purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme at Foss Islands Road in York.
The £17m contract is the Yorkshire firm’s third PBSA project in the city.
The five-storey building is going up on what was previously occupied by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Just Tyres. The site was acquired early last year by Urbium Capital and Harrogate-based Gregory Properties.
The building will have 131 studios and two one-bedroom apartments, with communal amenities areas, including co-working study spaces, a fitness centre, social areas and courtyards.
Completion is targeted for summer 2027.
GMI ԭ Group already has two other live PBSA projects in York, with both due to complete this spring. These include a £50m 275-bed development for Olympian Homes on the former Rialto cinema and bingo hall site and a £22m project for S Harrison Developments on James Street, which will deliver 303 beds.
GMI project manager Mick Spells said: “We’re excited to break ground on the Foss Islands Road project – continuing our work expanding York’s student housing infrastructure. It’s a project that aligns perfectly with GMI’s commitment to delivering high-quality projects that benefit local communities. We look forward to bringing this scheme to life and making a positive contribution to the city’s student experience.”