Staffordshire University Student Village

The landmark £100 million Staffordshire University Student Village provides 1,000 new and refurbished student bedrooms, a dedicated Village Hub and a pedestrian bridge connecting the accommodation to the wider campus.

The Student Village is located on the opposite side of the River Trent, next to an existing nature reserve and close to the existing Clarice Cliff Court Halls of Residence and the Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School.

The project also includes the demolition of 743 existing student residences which are no longer fit for purpose. The former accommodation site has been transformed into into new parkland to enhance the surrounding nature reserve and biodiversity.

Design features

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.

The design team have created an exciting, scenic, and accessible pedestrian bridge connecting the new village with the existing campus, aligning with the University’s goal to maintain full accessibility throughout the entire campus.

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

Sustainability

The Student Village is designed to achieve Net Zero Carbon in Operation (NZCiO), while the student accommodation targets EPC A ratings for energy performance.

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.

The Student Village incorporates sustainable design principles to reduce energy demand and environmental impact. Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels generate renewable electricity, while air source heat pumps help minimise energy demand for hot water.

Willmott Dixon are the UK’s leading Passivhaus contractor, and core Passivhaus principles include highly insulated and airtight fabric, couple with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery to reduce energy and carbon emissions.

Local economic impacts

The Student Village represents a significant investment in Stoke-on-Trent, supporting the University’s continued growth and contributing to the city’s wider regeneration.

The project will contribute additional parkland to enhance the existing nature reserve and biodiversity surrounding the site.

The quality of the new accommodation will be superior to other available student housing in the surrounding Stoke-on-Trent area, and will hopefully attract more students to living on campus, and thereby contributing to the economic growth of the city centre. With the student population expected to keep growing, it’s incredibly important that the accommodation on offer is revamped and added to where possible.

Staffordshire University is known for its strong focus on digital innovation and immersive teaching techniques which seek to emulate real world scenarios across most of its subjects.

It is a leader in Computer Science, Games Design and Film Production. All of which are exciting growth areas.