Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed main contractor for a £274m student accommodation redevelopment in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Castle Leazes scheme is being delivered for Unite Students and Newcastle University. It will replace a 1960s-era, 1,250-bed complex with 2,009 rooms built to modern design and sustainability standards. Bowmer + Kirkland said it had delivered £9.6m in social value during the early stages, through local employment, supply chain spending, training, and community engagement. Bowmer + Kirkland North East and Scotland regional director Ed Besford said the team worked closely with the regulator to secure Gateway 2 approval, calling Castle Leazes a “landmark redevelopment”.