Student accommodation developer Unite Group is investing £80million in newly acquired sites in Aberdeen and Liverpool.
The company’s Unite Students business aims to have them open in time for the scheduled to be open in time for the 2017/18 academic year.
Together the new projects will add about 1,250 beds to Unite Students’ UK-wide portfolio.
The investment represents about 60% of the group’s planned development activity for 2017 delivery.
Unite Students did not reveal exactly where the new sites are, or which universities they were for.
But is said they were in “excellent, central locations and will complement Unite’s existing properties in each city very well.”
It added: “Aberdeen and Liverpool are both cities with large and growing student populations which underpin market fundamentals.”
Managing director Richard Simpson said: “We are delighted to have secured two more excellent sites in strong regional locations in line with our development strategy.
“The new schemes will enhance our presence in two of our best performing markets and provide much needed accommodation capacity for the growing student populations.
“The acquisition of these sites means that we have now secured approximately 60% of our target 2017 pipeline, providing greater visibility of our future earnings growth.”
Unite Students already owns four properties in Aberdeen, including two in King Street and one each in Spring Gardens and Mealmarket Street.
Elsewhere in Scotland, the company also sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
It is also currently developing a one-acre plot near the centre of Aberdeen on the site of the former Causewayend School.
The 120,000 square feet scheme there is expected to have a total development cost of £20million.
It will be transformed into accommodation for about 400 students and is targeted to open for the 2016/17 academic year.
Unite Students accommodates more than 43,000 students in 130 purpose-built properties across 23 university towns and cities throughout the UK.
The business employs more than 1,000 people and works with 50-plus higher education providers, as well as renting rooms directly to students.