The Derwent Living Group has formed part of a unique partnership agreement worth £214million, to provide thousands of new student rooms on the Aston University Campus, in the centre of Birmingham.

The Derby-based housing provider and student accommodation specialist, the university and The Bank of Scotland, are trustees of Aston Student Villages, a charity that will manage 3,000 new student rooms for the next 35 years. The Bank of Scotland is part of Lloyds Banking Group and has provided the funding for Aston Student Villages and Derwent Living will manage the accommodation.

Paul Wisher, commercial director at The Derwent Living Group, said that the new environmentally sustainable development will involve the demolition of a number of 1970s tower blocks, the retention of 650 beds at Lakeside and the construction of 2,350 new student units. This will increase student accommodation at the university on the Aston University  campus by over 40%.

"Construction of the first phase of 1,300 rooms has just been completed ready for occupation this term (September 2010), with the next phase of 1,000 rooms being due for completion by August 2013," he said.

The project will also provide a new artificial five-a-side football pitch and a below ground level car park with 250 spaces at the university.

The Derwent Living Group is the parent company of  Derwent Living, the Midlands-based housing provider, and Derwent FM, its newly formed facilities management company. Derwent Living is already a major provider of student accommodation across the Midlands, South Yorkshire and the South East as well as owning and managing 11,000 residential homes.

Derwent FM was created through a unique partnership between Derwent Living and Martin Corbett, who has a wealth FM sector expertise.

Paul Wisher, one of the trustees of the project, said: "Our involvement in the Student Residences Project is fantastic news. By combining our experience as a major housing provider and the expertise of Martin Corbett, we feel that The Derwent Living Group will be able to provide an excellent service to the university."

Martin Corbett, another trustee and managing director of Derwent FM, said: "We are proud to be involved in this prestigious scheme. This is a long term partnership and we will utilise our facilities management and life cycle expertise to ensure the buildings and environment are kept in pristine condition to enhance the student experience."

Alastair Hewgill, an Aston Student Village trustee and CFO of Aston University said: "We are delighted that Derwent Living Group are involved in this important project. The Derwent Living Group has already seamlessly taken over the facilities management of the residences and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership."

For more information about Derwent Living, please visit their website here: www.derwentliving.com