GRAHAM has obtained Gateway 2 building control approval for the University of Manchester's £530 million Fallowfield Campus redevelopment, set to be the world’s largest single‑phase Passivhaus‑certified purpose‑built student accommodation (PBSA) project.

The decision confirms that all 29 blocks across the site can proceed, including seven high‑rise buildings (HRBs) that meet the higher‑risk threshold of 18 metres or seven storeys, along with the remaining 22 blocks below that threshold.

Authorisation verifies that the 3,300‑room scheme's design complies with the Building Safety Act’s requirements for higher‑risk buildings, following a detailed review of fire safety, structural and construction evidence. It builds on initial Gateway 2 approvals granted in January 2026 for two of the development’s seven HRBs, both 14‑storey blocks providing more than 400 en‑suite beds between them. GRAHAM first applied to the Building Safety Regulator in June 2025, three months before planning permission was received.

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The campus is being delivered via a 50‑year partnership between the University of Manchester, Equitix, GRAHAM and Rothesay, with cornerstone funding from Rothesay. GRAHAM will phase delivery, opening the first 1,000 rooms in 2028 and completing the remainder by 2030.

On completion, the scheme will offer 3,300 high‑quality, sustainable student rooms alongside shared amenities. It will replace Owens Park, Oak House and Woolton Hall with five new neighbourhoods and a central hub for social and study space. Operational energy use is targeted to be around 50% lower than a conventional new‑build student scheme.

Neil McFarlane, Strategic Development Director at GRAHAM Investment Projects, said: "Reaching Gateway 2 approval across the whole of Fallowfield Campus is a huge achievement for the entire project team. With a scheme of this scale and ambition, it took strong collaboration and a thorough working knowledge of the process to secure.

"We submitted our first application to the Building Safety Regulator several months ahead of planning approval, and that early, proactive approach to design and fire safety has been central to getting here.

"Together with our partners, we’re looking forward to seeing this scheme come to fruition, delivering lasting benefits for the Manchester student body and setting a precedent for sustainable PBSA schemes across the UK."