Balfour Beatty lands £120m Sussex university project

Balfour Beatty has been appointed preferred bidder for the University of Sussex’s £120m East Slope Residences project.

The contractor will design, build, finance and operate the project under a 50-year contract.

Subject to planning approval, the project will replace a 600-bed facility on the university’s campus with a new living space comprising 2,000 bedrooms. It will also include social spaces and new student union facilities.

Construction is expected to start in 2016, and would be delivered by Balfour Beatty’s UK construction services business.

Leo Quinn (pictured), group chief executive, said: “Following the revaluation of the portfolio last week, this project demonstrates the continued value our investments business brings to the whole group. We look forward to supporting the university with their growth ambitions and delivering on their sustainability targets.”