The partners behind the student-living scheme in Leith, Edinburgh – Bridges Fund Management, independent living-led developer HUB and equity investor Housing Growth Partnership (HGP) – are delighted to announce that Fresh has been chosen to operate the scheme. This follows the news of the partners securing a £79m development loan from BGO last year. Formerly ‘Shore Station’, the site is to be now known as Mantle Yard.

Fresh, which has been appointed to mobilise, market, lease and operate the 604-bed scheme, has fifteen years of experience in third-party management, with over 20,000 units across a range of rental living tenures currently within its remit across 27 cities and towns. Fresh currently operates over 60 student-living schemes, including one in central Edinburgh.

Mantle Yard, designed by Edinburgh-based Michael Laird Architects, is a former gasworks and naval yard being transformed into the largest private single-site student living scheme in the Scottish capital. The site’s heritage and role it played in lighting up Edinburgh when it was a gasworks inspired the name Mantle Yard; a mantle is an element of gas lights that were used across the city.

Mantle Yard is campus-style student living with six buildings around a landscaped central square and courtyard gardens, within walking distance of The Shore, in the heart of the sought-after Leith neighbourhood. Shared internal amenity spaces include study rooms, library, lounge, TV room, kitchen, gym and yoga spaces, with abundant cycle storage prioritising wellbeing and collaboration.

With construction well underway, led by McAleer & Rushe, completion is targeted ahead of the 2027/28 academic year.

Sarah Willoughby-Parsons, Head of Asset Management at HUB said:

“Mantle Yard is a truly exciting project for HUB, Bridges, HGP and Edinburgh. With demand for high-quality student accommodation continuing to grow, we’re proud to be delivering a scheme that not only meets that need but does so with ambition, design excellence, and a deep respect for the local context. Fresh brings a wealth of operational expertise, and we’re confident that it will help make Mantle Yard a thriving and well-managed community for students.”

Sam Scott, Managing Director at Fresh, said:

“We are delighted to be appointed to play a key role in bringing Mantle Yard to market. With our in-depth knowledge of the Edinburgh market and an understanding of the growing popularity of Leith, we are ideally positioned to successfully mobilise, market and operate this exciting property. Our proven track record and extensive experience in PBSA will ensure Mantle Yard is positioned for success.”