Aparto Caton Court

A new brand for a global developer

We worked with international developers and fund managers, Hines, on the development of their first two student accommodation developments.

Our interior designers and architects developed designs that provide unique, high-quality accommodation and set the standard for the whole brand. As part of our commission we undertook a market research study for Hines, which identified the best current student accommodation, together with current and future market trends.

Caton Court offers a range of student accommodation types and price points, with en-suite cluster flats, ranging in size from three to eight bedrooms together with a number of innovative ‘5+5’ clusters which combine the living spaces of pairs of 5 bed units to offer uniquely generous and flexible accommodation to residents.

The scheme boasts outstanding communal facilities for students to socialise and study:

The Loft offers lounge and communal dining facilities with unparalleled views across the city, together with gaming and a cinema.

The Library is a multi-functional communal lounge at ground floor where students can meet, study, relax and pick up their post/ parcels from reception which is manned 24 hours a day.

The Wellbeing Zone offers laundry, gym, fitness suite and a radical meeting point at the heart of the development where residents can gather to watch major events on the big screen or just hang out watching the world go by.

The Courtyard provides a green oasis at the centre of the development offering students communal BBQ and outdoor activity spaces as well as quieter spaces to get away from the bustle of student life.

Town Planning

Stride Treglown was appointed in February 2016 by Hines to deliver planning permission for a student accommodation scheme of 630 student bedrooms on a key regeneration site on the approach to the historic city centre of Lancaster.

This was key to ensuring the promotion of a viable proposal for the site. Pre-application meetings proved to be a significant positive step to help secure support from Officers on the emerging proposals. Specifically, this ensured that a range of matters could be considered early in the design process and allowed appropriate responses to be tabled. This was crucial in respect of heritage matters given the relatively close proximity to a conservation area and listed buildings together with the wider Lancaster skyline.

In order to ensure any future consent was protected from any risk of challenge we drafted and submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion request.

A full planning application was submitted in August 2016. The Caton Court scheme was supported by many across the city, including from Lancaster University, the Civic Society and large number of members of the public. The level of support was considered to be influenced by the level or pre-application engagement with Officers and members of the community.

The application was recommended for approval and considered at Committee in January 2017. Stride Treglown continue to be engaged to develop the proposals through detailed design coordination and ongoing discharge of conditions.