Further evidence of Stoke’s continuing economic development comes with the announcement of the construction of Q Studios – a new 300-studio student property in the Hartshill area of the city.

Adjacent to Stoke’s rejuvenated University Quarter and Staffordshire University’s main campus, the 1.5-acre site on North Street has already been cleared and work on the foundations is scheduled to commence later this month. Forty local jobs will be created during the build.

The arrival of this £14 million development is welcome news, with Staffordshire University centralising operations in the city and Keele currently one of the fastest growing universities in the country. This brings with it increased student housing requirements and explains why Q Studios has already won the backing of university officials.

It also ties in with the long-term strategy of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire University and Keele University to attract 17,000 more students to this thriving student city over the next decade.

Construction is being carried out by Alpha Homes – an NHBC-accredited commercial property developer. Established in 2001, they have successfully brought 15 purpose built student properties into operation in locations that include Durham, Leicester, Loughborough and Bradford.

Once completed, in September 2018, Q Studios will be managed by Mezzino, who will install a ten-strong team to manage the development on a day-to-day basis.

Mezzino are a specialist student property management company, with a portfolio of 1,800 beds throughout the country – collecting more than £9 million in gross rents each year.

Q Studios will be the first all-studio development of its kind in Stoke. Each apartment will boast a private en-suite bathroom and open plan living space – with both social and study areas, as well as a double bed and fully-equipped kitchen.

Resident facilities will also include a cinema, gym and study centre, alongside off-road parking, bike storage and a laundry room.

This development is further evidence of Stoke’s appeal to investors.

The city is recognised by global forecasting experts Oxford Economics as having had the second fastest growing local economy over the last five years, with growth since 2010 sitting at nearly six times the national average.

More broadly, the West Midlands attracts the most investment of any region outside London.

Much of Stoke’s success can be put down to the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP, which is recognised by fDi magazine as a top three local enterprise partnership for attracting inward investment.

James Harrington, Business Development Manager for Emerging Property – Q Studios’ exclusive marketing agents – said:

“Stoke-on-Trent has all the characteristics we look for in a student property investment location. It has two large and well-respected universities, and widespread investment initiatives are forever increasing the city’s appeal as a student destination.

“The poor standard of current stock and nominal supply pipeline make the city ill-equipped to meet fast growing demand, and we look forward to our development being welcomed by students and local residents, as well as by the universities themselves.”

Councillor Jack Brereton, cabinet member for regeneration and transport at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It is fantastic to see Stoke town, the University Quarter and our city as a whole undergoing significant regeneration.

“Staffordshire University is expanding to be wholly based in the city with around 3,000 more students and staff, which will give a real boost to our economy and local businesses. We need additional, good quality student accommodation to meet this demand and it’s great to see the private sector showing such confidence in our city with developments like this coming forward”