Moorfield and Tiger Developments team up on Bristol PBSA project

Moorfield and Tiger Developments have formed a joint venture to create a 204-bed, PBSA project in Bristol, funded by Moorfield Real Estate Fund V. 

Bristol PBSA

This £60 mln (€69 mln) development is situated within Temple Quarter, a large-scale regeneration project in Europe. Moorfield and Tiger are partnering for the first time on this investment.
Upon completion, Host, a sister company to Tiger Developments, will manage the 204-bed facility. Watkin Jones, a developer and manager of residential-for-rent properties in the UK, will be the delivery and contracting partner for the project.
Temple Quarter is expected to deliver 10,000 new homes and 22,000 jobs over the next 25 years through various facilities and spaces. The student housing scheme is located opposite the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, a £500 mln (€578 mln) development from the University of Bristol that will accommodate thousands of students, staff, and partners.
The development, designed by Chapman Taylor architects, is being built on a brownfield site and will feature ensuite clusters and self-contained studios across multiple blocks. It aims for high environmental standards, including an EPC A rating and BREEAM Excellent certification, and will incorporate PV panels and a connection to the local district heating network.
Bristol has a significant undersupply of student housing, with a large number of new students arriving in recent years compared to the number of new beds developed. According to CBRE, the unmet demand in the purpose-built student accommodation sector is over 21,000 students. Moorfield has experience in the student housing market, having delivered approximately 5,000 beds through Domain. Tiger Developments is also developing another student accommodation project in Bristol, which will add 447 new bedrooms. CBRE advised Tiger Developments on this joint venture.
Charles Ferguson-Davie, co-CEO and CIO, Moorfield: “MREFV has a thematic focus on Living & Storage real estate, and PBSA remains a high conviction sector, where we can meet demand for best-in-class accommodation in the UK’s most structurally undersupplied markets. There are many challenges facing the development sector, which now also includes the new building control submission process, and we are pleased that we have been able to form a partnership with Tiger and Watkin Jones, who are both very experienced developers.”
John Nesbitt, managing director at Host said: “This partnership with Moorfield Group will expedite the delivery of what we believe is one of the most exciting PBSA schemes planned for any UK city. Bristol’s student population is predicted to increase rapidly over the next decade, and this development is much needed, particularly in the context of the emerging and neighbouring Temple Quarter Enterprise. Students will have a safe, stylish, and professionally managed place to live in the heart of one of the most popular cities in which to study in the UK.”
Gwyn Pritchard, managing director – Construction at Watkin Jones, commented: “This PBSA scheme at Freestone Road is a standout project, and we’re pleased to be moving into the next phase with the main contract now signed. Watkin Jones is uniquely positioned to diversify in a challenging market, bringing the expertise and capability to support our partners through evolving building safety regulations. Once complete, this development will deliver high-quality, thoughtfully designed student accommodation — including elevated walkways — ready for the 2027 academic year. We’re proud to be adding another landmark to Bristol’s thriving student population, adjacent to our successful Gas Lane development.”