An £11.8 million scheme which will provide much-needed additional student bed spaces in the heart of Gloucester city centre has celebrated a major development milestone.

Developed by Cityheart Limited with Midas Construction as the contractors, a topping out celebration on the site of the Blackfriars Residence project marked the highest point being reached in the construction of the new high specification and secure student accommodation in Barbican Way.

The project is the second phase of the Blackfriars Residence scheme and follows the success of the first phase, a 295-bed development, which opened its doors to its first cohort of students in 2018.

The latest project involves the creation of a further 190 bedrooms over two blocks, with 128 student spaces in one block and 62 in the second.

Midas Construction is part of the Midas Group and is building the scheme on behalf of Cityheart Limited, an established and successful property investment and development company, which provides student accommodation across the UK.

Midas is due to complete the second phase in summer 2022 and the residences will be available for students from both the University of Gloucestershire and Hartpury College and University.

Mark McNamee, managing director of Cityheart Limited, said: "This is the latest student accommodation project that we are developing, having already successfully delivered more than 5,000 student beds across the UK in the last 10 years. Upon completion, this facility will be managed by our specialist in house team, Cityheart Living and we look forward to welcoming the first cohort of students next year."

Steven Hart, Midas Construction divisional director for Wessex and Wales, said: "We are delighted to be working with Cityheart to further enhance its student accommodation offer in Gloucester and to be celebrating with them this important milestone in the delivery of the scheme."

The Midas Group delivers projects across a range of sectors including; education, residential and commercial developments, and has offices throughout the South West, Southern England and Wales.

Midas has a growing reputation in the student accommodation sector, having completed 12 projects in the last five years, with a combined value of £300 million and providing more than 3,000 student bed spaces.