The housing provides 23 additional student rooms at St Chads site for St Catharine’s College.

The site is within a conservation area with established mature trees, a Grade II listed building and 1970’s student accommodation.

A 1970’s building is being demolished and replacing with two new buildings with en-suite student rooms and shared facilities. The organisation of the accommodation has been developed through conversations with students who have lived on the St Chads site.

The architectural approach has been developed from an understanding and response to the existing context of the Conservation Area and the existing architecture of the St Chads site. The character of the Conservation Area is typified by large Arts and Crafts and Queen Anne Houses. The architectural approach of the new buildings reflects the materials and character of the surrounding Conservation Area. The design looks to learn from the details and character of the surrounding architecture, reinterpreted in a contemporary way with a focus on quality and sustainability.

The project successfully received planning consent in 2020.