We have started construction of state-of-the-art student accommodation in West Yorkshire to support two of the county’s key educational institutions.

Appleton Point – a six-storey, 160-apartment building – will be located within a mile of the University of Bradford and Bradford College. The £4.5m scheme is named after the renowned and Nobel prize winning physicist Edward Appleton, who was born in Bradford.

Fusion is acting as project managers and quantity surveyors on behalf of clients Mederco Ltd, who specialise in turnkey student housing schemes.

The self-contained studio apartments will feature a bed and wardrobe, furniture for studying and dining, an en-suite shower room and a kitchenette.

Occupants will also benefit from a range of excellent on-site facilities including a gym, cinema room, games/television room, study rooms, I.T. suite, and laundry facilities.

The University of Bradford is home to approximately 13,889 students, 22% of which are from overseas, and is ranked in the Sunday Times top 20 for graduate level employment in the UK.

The university has recently invested £84 million in its facilities, including a major refurbishment of the laboratories in the school of life sciences, improvements to sports facilities, a new MBA suite, and a library based at the school of management. The student union has also been refurbished and facilities for disabled students have been improved.

Bradford College, which has more than 23,000 students, is one of the top four largest colleges in the UK and is the largest provider of higher education outside of the university sector in England. The college is currently building a new £50m scheme as part of its five-year renewal plan.

Fusion director Steven Jelfs said: “We are pleased to be working with Mederco Ltd to bring new accommodation for the students of Bradford, who will also benefit from the on-site facilities.

“Both the university and college have made significant investments in their campuses and facilities and Appleton Point provides modern accommodation in a prime location, which will help them to attractive the caliber of domestic and international students they are aiming for.”

Stewart Day, of Mederco Ltd, said: “Despite recent fears over tuition fees, UCAS figures for 2013-2014 showed a 3.5% increase in applications. The current economic and financial climate has caused universities to focus on improving the standard of facilities, courses and lecturers they provide, rather than updating or providing more accommodation. As developers we have worked closely with the university and college to ensure Appleton Point provides everything their students need to ensure their learning experience is memorable.

“Fusion provides an extremely professional service and the company’s vast knowledge in the building sector has given me the confidence to appoint them as project managers and expand the boundaries of my business.”

The 14-month project is due to be completed in August 2014.

Mederco LTD is also working with Fusion Building Consultancy to identify sites across the UK that will be suitable for similar student accommodation schemes.