Release Date 23 June 2016

Plans for major redevelopment of St Patrick's Hall at the University of Reading have been submitted to Reading Borough Council.

The multi-million pound student accommodation revamp will see an increase of student rooms available from 300 to more than 1,000. The University believes the extra rooms on campus will help reduce the demand for private rented houses in Reading.

Record graduate intakes in the last few years means the University and its accommodation partner UPP need to invest in high quality halls and facilities to meet the growing demand for affordable, on-campus accommodation and provide a greater choice of accommodation to suit all student budgets.

The planning application was submitted to Reading Borough Council on 23 June following in-depth consultation with the local community, students and staff.

Colin Robbins, Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of Reading said: "It is important that the University of Reading offers the high quality accommodation that matches our world-class teaching and research.

"In a competitive higher education market, we must provide a greater range of affordable accommodation to students and delivering this project with our accommodation partner UPP will ensure this."

St Patrick's Hall is the next phase of a £275m investment into the student halls accommodation from the University and UPP. The St Patrick's Hall redevelopment will offer extensive social space and improved catering and retail facilities.

Sean O'Shea, Group Chief Executive Officer at UPP commented: "We are delighted to have supported the University of Reading's plans to redevelop the St Patrick's Hall site. Since 2011 the University of Reading and UPP have worked together to contribute positively to the student experience and the submission of the planning application is another step forward in this close partnership.

"Together we have already invested more than a quarter of a billion pounds into campus accommodation and we are excited to now take these plans forward into the next phase."

Further information on the plans to redevelopment St Patrick's Hall can be found at http://www.reading.ac.uk/st-patricks-project/.