Elmstead Place, Colchester

With the needs of continuing students very much in mind, this 138 bedroom direct let development provides living accommodation primarily in the form of 3 storey townhouses alongside a smaller number of studio flats.

As developer, contractor and operator of Elmstead Place, Osborne are particularly proud of the scheme which welcomed its first students in September 2020.

Elmstead Place is extremely well located being immediately opposite the University of Essex’s Colchester campus with cycle routes and regular buses giving access into the town centre and to campus facilities.

Recognising that students often look to move out of traditional halls for their second and third years of study, the development provides 15 self-contained town houses fronting onto a central landscaped green. The townhouses all feature en-suite facilities alongside generous kitchen/living rooms on the ground floor and are proving very popular with friendship groups as an alternative to the traditional HMO offering.

A separate block on site provides a student lounge, a laundry, reception facilities, parcel storage, staff office, cycle and bin storage. On the first and second floors of that block are a further 15 studio flats including several suitable for dual occupancy.

The design of the buildings and choice of materials seek to be respectful of the nearby residential properties and the landscaped external realm creates an attractive setting which provides students with the opportunity to experience off campus living whilst still retaining the advantages that come from being in a purpose built student environment.