University of Staffordshire has officially opened its landmark £100 million Student Village, completing one of its largest-ever investments in the student experience and one of the most significant single investments in Stoke-on-Trent’s ongoing regeneration.

The Student Village was delivered through the Staffordshire Campus Living partnership between the University of Staffordshire, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, and Plenary, with Willmott Dixon delivering the construction.

The official opening took place on Friday 11 September, with Professor Philip Plowden, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, and Major Levison Wood, Chancellor of the University, joining the delivery partners to cut the ribbon as residents prepare to move into the Village for the start of the academic year.

The opening comes shortly after the University was named Modern University of the Year 2027 in the Daily Mail University Guide – recognition that specifically cited the Student Village, alongside the University's rise in the league table and strong graduate employability outcomes, among the reasons for the award.

Connected to the University’s main Leek Road campus by a new pedestrian bridge, the Student Village provides 1,000 new and refurbished bedrooms in a mix of contemporary cluster blocks and townhouses, creating a vibrant residential community.

At the heart of the Student Village is a brand-new Village Hub, where students will find study areas, social spaces and wellbeing facilities under one roof. The Village Hub has been designed to support students’ success and wellbeing, from quiet study zones to spaces built for connection and community, a single home for the moments that make up student life.

Town Houses and Cluster Blocks at the new Student Village.

Professor Philip Plowden, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at University of Staffordshire, said: “The Student Village is one of the most significant investments we have ever made in our students’ experience, and it’s fitting that it opens a month after we've been named Daily Mail Modern University of the Year 2027. This development gives our students an outstanding place to live, study and build community, right at the heart of our Stoke-on-Trent campus. It’s also a clear statement of our confidence in this city's future, and our commitment to being part of its growth for years to come.”

Pictured (left to right): Sergio Calcarao, Group Head of Development for Plenary , Professor Phillip Plowden, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at University of Staffordshire, Chancellor Major Levison Wood, Peter Coenen, CEO, Hochtief PPP Solutions, and Dan Doyle, Regional Midlands Director, Willmott Dixon.

Bringing 1,000 students to live, spend and study in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, the Student Village adds a significant new resource to the city as one of several regeneration projects transforming Stoke-on-Trent, including the £60 million Goods Yard development, the revitalisation of the historic Spode Works, and the £29 million railway station and gateway programme, funded by the Transforming Cities Fund.

Ian Prescott, Managing Director UK of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, said: “The opening of the Student Village is the culmination of a fantastic partnership and a shared ambition to create an outstanding place for students to live. Together, we’ve delivered a sustainable, modern development that will enhance the student experience for years to come while creating a lasting asset for the University and the wider Stoke-on-Trent community.”

Paul Crowe, CEO at Plenary, said: “Congratulations to the University and our partners who have made this project such an outstanding success. This project has benefitted from genuine collaboration from the start by all to realise the University’s vision. We look forward to seeing the new facilities full of life when students move in.”

Major Levison Wood, Chancellor of the University of Staffordshire, said: “It has been a privilege to see this project come to life and to open the doors of the Student Village to our students. It stands as a symbol of ambition and investment in Stoke-on-Trent, and I know it will be at the heart of student life here for generations to come.”

Alongside the net zero in operation Village Hub, the development has delivered biodiversity net gain, landscaped public spaces and improved pedestrian connections across the campus, helping to create a sustainable, greener campus while supporting students’ wellbeing.

Students will also benefit from controlled access, 24/7 on-site security, and the SafeZone app.

Crowd gathered to celebrate the official opening.

Designed by architects, Corstorphine & Wright, the development was built by Hertfordshire-headquartered Willmott Dixon. Pinnacle Group is operating the accommodation alongside the University.

During construction, Willmott Dixon committed to sourcing at least 25% of labour from within 10 miles of the site and 50% from within 30 miles, alongside a programme of apprenticeships, work experience and careers engagement delivered with the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub.

Dan Doyle, Willmott Dixon Construction Midlands Director, said: “Building 1,000 bedrooms and a new Hub alongside a fully operating campus required close collaboration with the University and our Staffordshire Campus Living partners at every stage. What we'll remember is how involved students were in the project itself, recreating the village in Fortnite before it opened, and bringing an alumni artist on site for a mural that changed how our own workforce talks about mental health. Initiatives like this make a difference and leave a legacy that will last a long time.”

For more information about accommodation at University of Staffordshire, visit staffs.ac.uk/accommodation.