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Marble Works
Student accommodation that's good for Derby, for students, and our clients bottom line.
2020
Commercial
Leisure
From eyesore to asset: there's romance in restoring old buildings, but there's profit in knowing when to start over.
Our clients site was screaming potential—though admittedly through boarded-up windows and a rather impressive collection of weeds. It had been quietly hemorrhaging value for twenty years with three derelict 18th-century buildings that had seen better centuries, creating more problems than profit and giving "period character" a thoroughly bad name.
Sitting on the secondary gateway into the city center and just two minutes from the University of Derby, this was a prime piece of real estate.
Location
Derby City Centre
Status
Planning Approved
Services
Architectural Design
3D Visualisation
Planning
Area
22,000 sqft
Understanding
Urban Context
Sixty-two purpose-built studios with ground-floor commercial space. Our design maximizes every square meter without making anybody feel like they're living in a shipping container. Five floors delivering 2,048 sqm of rentable space from a 503 sqm footprint—that's the kind of smart density that makes planning officers suspicious but ultimately impressed.
Compact but clever studio layouts optimize space efficiency while the rooftop garden and ground-floor cafe create lifestyle differentiators that justify premium rents.
We've respected the local heritage character through traditional brick facades with contemporary detailing. Soldier course features between windows nod to local vernacular while chameleon rain screen cladding and green living walls add modern contrast.
Smart Construction
Hybrid concrete and steel frame construction with Metsec metal infill systems delivers speed and cost efficiency. Because time really is money, especially when you're paying interest on development loans.
Brick slip cladding on carrier boards gives authentic masonry appearance without the weight penalties or extended build programs of traditional construction. All the charm in half the time.
This approach cuts construction time while maintaining quality and durability. Faster build means earlier rental income. Lighter cladding systems reduce foundation requirements and overall frame costs.
The cafe creates daytime footfall and community integration—crucial for planning approval in urban locations. Ground-floor commercial space diversifies income potential and provides exit flexibility for when your investment strategy inevitably evolves.
Why This Works
It's student accommodation that's expansion-proof. University growth means guaranteed demand for quality housing.
Location drives demand: walking distance to campus eliminates transport costs students can't afford. City center proximity means entertainment, shopping, and nightlife on the doorstep. No parking provision keeps development costs down while appealing to car-free student demographics who think insurance is just a theoretical concept anyway.
This isn't just student housing—it's proof that thoughtful regeneration delivers returns while creating places people really want to live. It's revolutionary stuff, really.
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