Unilodge, Linkcity reveal student housing plan for Newcastle's Cambridge Hotel

The corner of Hunter and Wood streets will fall quiet under the plan, which proposes a 19-storey tower "sanctuary" designed to house students living out of home for the first time in what its backers bill as a first for the CBD.

Nicolas Swiderski, managing director for property development firm Linkcity Australia, said the company had been looking for a site in Newcastle for several years, and the pub was perfect for their $110 million plan.

"The project aligns with the 2041 Hunter Regional plan for a 15 minute city, with the students having a very short commute to the University of Newcastle NUSpace and Honeysuckle Campuses either walking, bike riding or one light rail stop," Mr Swiderski said.

"Our goal is to create a safe sanctuary for young people that may be living away from home for the first time and, we will partner with Australia's most experienced student accommodation provider UniLodge to make sure we achieve this goal."

"Providing more student accommodation in the city centre is a priority action for the city's revitalisation and the redevelopment of this site delivers on that action in spades. By providing 500 additional beds in the city centre for students, will hopefully also free up some of the rental housing stock which is in such high demand."

"If approved, this will be first purpose-built accommodation for students in the city centre and we are excited to be able to lead the way in providing a high quality, smart and sustainable development for what is arguably our most informed and consequence-conscious generation."

Linkcity, part of the French Bouygues group, has developed more than 17,000 student accommodation beds in France and the UK.

Sister company AW Edwards will build the tower if approved.

"These 500 students will bring a new vibrancy to the Newcastle CBD, spending money, eating out and also looking for part time employment. It will be a long-term economic lift for the CBD"

Mr Swizerski said the plans offered surrounding businesses a chance to plan for a change in demographics. "There is a real opportunity for businesses to start thinking about how to best support the influx of students to the area. Our current programme is to start construction mid-2023 and we will have students in the building ready for the start of the 2025 university year," he said.

The plan includes more than a square kilometre of communal indoor space for residents to study, cook, socialise and relax.

Unilodge, which operates 35,000 student housing beds in Australia and New Zealand including the former Grace Brothers building in Ultimo, is also a partner in the site.

"We are pleased to be working with Linkcity on this fantastic project in Newcastle. We are combining our 25 years of management experience in Australia with Linkcity's international development experience to design and deliver a product that meets the needs of students living, recreation and wellbeing requirements," Unilodge executive chairman Peter Bates said.

The existing Cambridge Hotel would be integrated as a food and beverage venue, with some additional retail space. Its first floor accommodation would become student common areas.

AW Edwards chief executive Greg D'Arcy said construction would generate about 500 jobs.

A pre-development application is ready to be lodged soon.

The Hunter Joint Regional Planning Panel will assess the project, with construction earmarked to begin in July next year if it wins approval.

IN THE NEWS

The existing Cambridge Hotel lease expires in June 2023. The pub, which has hosted a slew of international performers, was listed for sale in 2017.

That listing was accompanied with concept plans for a tower with more than 150 apartments.

At the time co-owner John Palmieri denied any sale would definitively spell last drinks for live music at the iconic venue.

"There would be nothing to replace it in terms of what it can offer," he said.

Commercial Collective's Adam Leacy and Matt Kearney handled its re-listing in December 2020.

"It was taken to market in 2017 albeit our view was that it was a little bit early to market," Mr Leacy said at the time. "Now with the infrastructure around it, The Store and what's happening in the West End, we believe is the right time."

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