A team from the Bristol office of global law firm Osborne Clarke has acted for an international consortium of businesses specialising in public-private partnerships on a major UK student residential scheme.
Staffordshire Campus Living, which includes Hochtief PPP Solutions and Plenary Group, secured the contract to design, build, finance and operate the 700-room development, pictured, at Staffordshire University in Stoke-on-Trent. 
Due for completion in 2026, the £100m scheme will be built in cluster blocks and town houses alongside a village ‘hub’ facility to be used as a social space for students.
The development, to be constructed by national building firm and consortium partner Wilmott Dixon, will be close to the university’s nature reserve and the River Trent.
Staffordshire Campus Living has developed a low energy and low carbon scheme for the village, ensuring sustainability and carbon reduction remain at the heart of the design, build and operation.
Swindon-based Hochtief PPP Solutions, part of the German infrastructure giant Hochtief, and Australia-headquartered Plenary Group, are major players in public-private partnerships (PPPs) schemes in the UK. 
The Osborne Clarke team advising on the contract was led by Bristol-based projects partner Chris Wade and included Phil Davies (construction, planning and environment), Sarah Knight (corporate M&A), Leanne Hooper (real estate), Tracey Wright (tax), and Charlotte Kendrick (projects).
They were supported by Luke Webb (projects), Jen Glinos (construction, planning and environment), Shauna Poole (corporate) and trainee solicitor Charlotte D’Arcy.
Many of team previously worked with the University of Bristol on its new £500m Temple Quarter Campus next to Temple Meads railway station, which will be home to 4,600 students and 650 university staff.
Chris Wade, pictured, said: “The team at OC has been delighted to support Hochtief and Plenary on this transformational project for Staffordshire University and congratulates Staffordshire Campus Living and Staffordshire University on reaching financial close.”
Osborne Clarke is a recognised industry leader in the built environment sector, providing a comprehensive lifecycle service and advising major real estate industry organisations, ranging from occupiers to property funds to developers and investors.
The firm employs around 800 people in Bristol and also has UK offices in London and Reading.
