Refurbishment to two Bristol Student accommodations (Stonebridge House and Tamarillo House) – Forge Developments

Novus were appointed to deliver the refurbishment of two student accommodation sites, Stonebridge House and Tamarillo House, during summer 2025.

The works at Stonebridge House involved the refurbishment of 46 rooms over a 26-week period, while Tamarillo House saw 41 rooms refurbished over 17 weeks.

Scope:

Both schemes were focused on enhancing student living and associated support spaces, with works split into three key areas:

• Refurbishment and upgrades to ensure compliance with current building codes and regulations
• Reorganisation and full fit-out of existing layouts to create modern studio accommodation that offers greater independence and comfort
• Alterations to existing ground floor co-living and circulation spaces to create new communal amenity areas that foster a more social and supportive environment for residents

Successes:

The project has been delivered on time with consistently strong quality standards and a positive, collaborative relationship with the client. In addition, the team has contributed approximately £6,000 worth of temporary materials as a donation to support the project and add further value.

Challenges:

Key challenges included an initial lack of scope and specification clarity, along with a compressed mobilisation period which created pressures on the supply chain and early procurement activities.