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The Blackstone Group announces the development of a brand new first class student living concept. With an investment of over £95 million, The Blackstone Group is unveiling the Group’s first major student housing development, Nido London located on Pentonville Road in King’s Cross as part of the King’s Cross redevelopment programme and next to the Eurostar Terminal, London’s new gateway to Europe, due for opening in Spring 2007.

Operating under the brand name ‘Nido’ meaning nest in Spanish and Italian, Blackstone is focusing on an international roll out of this scheme following the launch of its flagship London site. Maureen McDermott, ex Managing Director of IES Student Resident Hall in Chelsea has been brought in as Nido Student Living Manager of European Student Accommodation.

Having acquired the former landmark site of the Nat West offices, which were built in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the offices are currently undergoing a major re-development. The building is also having an additional podium block built around the base of the towers. Completion date is due for September 2007 and will cover 16 floors, will have a total net area 217,000sq ft and be 59.7m tall. This will comprise 846 student en-suite rooms, known as Nido cubes within the two towers housing 950 students, 50 private apartments, 14 affordable apartments, retail units and commercial space. Three retail units will front on to Pentonville Road totalling 14,143 sq ft. There is also 19,956 sq ft of commercial space with separate access off Pentonville Road.

There is a basement with 41 car parking spaces and 250 bicycle storage spaces. Prices per week are from £120 for a shared room and from £180 per week for a single room. ‘Nido Plus’ (personal room services) will include enhanced in-Cube high speed internet, free internet, VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), online information services, separate study rooms and a free gym. Optional services will include cleaning and laundry pick-up.

“On the whole student living standards in the UK are awful. We have identified an opportunity to reinvent the student accommodation experience by launching ‘Nido’ in the heart of London’s King’s Cross. Nido offers students a unique high standard living product expected in today’s world. The Nido development will offer personal studio living space with high speed internet connection, interior designed rooms, amazing views across the city and above all a safe and secure community living environment in the centre of London”, says Stuart Grant, Managing Director for The Blackstone Real Estate Group in London.

Debt financing has been provided by Royal Bank of Scotland. The lawyers on the transaction are Clifford Chance. The asset management company is Generation Estates. The development manager is First Base. The refurbishment contractor is Bovis Lend Lease. The scheme architect is AHMM. The brand concept was developed by Winkreative, run by columnist, Tyler Brule.

source : The Blackstone Group