Commercial real estate investor, developer and asset manager – Firethorn Trust – reaches a major construction milestone at its Leith Walk purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Edinburgh, with completion of the building’s substructure.
The six-storey PBSA development – being delivered by Ogilvie Construction – will include accommodation for 230 students when it completes next year.
“Site operations started in October with the demolition of the previous structure and the project has made excellent progress since then. With the completion of the ground slab substructure, the next phase of the build will see the columns rising as we complete each storey of the new building.
“This is our 15th student accommodation project in recent years, and we look forward to handing over a first-class facility to Firethorn Trust next year.”
Donald MacDonald, Managing Director, Ogilvie Construction
The Leith Walk development includes construction of a single storey block adjacent to the main building, which will provide laundry facilities, a gym, cinema, and cycle store, as well as an electricity substation to power the buildings.
Leith Walk is Firethorn Trust’s first PBSA acquisition. The company secured £29.95m finance from Leumi UK in December 2024 to bring the project to life. Completion of the PBSA scheme is expected in time for the 2026/27 academic year.
“As the first PBSA scheme within our Living portfolio, Leith Walk reflects our ambition to meet growing demand for modern student housing in prime university cities across the UK.
“With a shared commitment to quality, alongside the strength of its local expertise, Ogilvie Construction is perfectly positioned to deliver our vision for the development, which has been designed to meet the highest sustainability standards, while providing a vibrant community for students to thrive.”
Paul Martin, Development Director, Firethorn Trust
Ogilvie Construction is part of the Ogilvie Group, a Scottish family-owned businesses. The company is over 65 years old and employs 600 people across its various business operations in the UK.
