Downing is pleased to confirm that we have secured Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval for our new student accommodation development on Heber Street in Newcastle city centre, a major milestone as we move into the final phase of our landmark Downing Plaza masterplan.
With approval now in place, we’re preparing to begin construction in March 2026.
The Heber Street scheme will deliver 411 student bedrooms, including 303 self-contained studio apartments and 20 cluster units. These clusters will provide 1 three-bed, 9 five-bed and 10 six-bed apartments, each with shared kitchen, living and dining spaces designed to foster community living.
Students will also benefit from a range of internal amenity spaces, ancillary facilities and landscaped gardens, helping us create a high-quality, modern living environment in the heart of the city.
Designed by Simpson Haugh, the development comprises a single building made up of three distinct sections rising to 10, 12 and 14 storeys. We’re targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating, embedding a range of sustainable features throughout the design.
This project represents the concluding phase of Downing Plaza, a transformative regeneration of the former Newcastle and Brown Brewery site, where we have already delivered teaching space for Newcastle University Business School, more than 1,800 student bedrooms, a 183-bed hotel and significant retail space.
