A project to create much-needed, bespoke accommodation for nearly 200 students at a site close to the University of Aberdeen began with a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday.

Alumno Developments and Kier Construction broke ground on the £11 million project, which will deliver rooms for 196 students in a modern, six storey building in the city’s Powis Place.

Comprising a series of two- to nine-bedroom cluster flats, along with studios, the Powis Place development includes onsite management facilities and modern amenities, as well as secure cycle spaces as part of an effort to encourage a reduction in car use.

Aberdeen is a major educational hub, with two prestigious universities and a student body of more than 22,000 full-time academics – with demand for high standard student accommodation far outstripping supply.

Alumno Developments said the Powis Place property, which is within walking distance of the University of Aberdeen and the city centre, will help to address some of that demand in a highly sustainable location.

David Campbell, managing director of Alumno Developments, said: “Starting work at Powis Place is an important step toward delivering on our promise to bring a new standard of bespoke accommodation to a city crying out for new facilities.

“Aberdeen has a significant international reputation as a first class destination for study – by creating this bespoke new accommodation, we will further enhance the city’s offering to a dynamic, cosmopolitan student body.

“Further supporting the city’s already renowned, excellent student experience is a key part of our drive to deliver exceptional student homes in Scotland and we aim to complete the construction programme in time for the start of the 2016/17 academic year.”

The building was designed by Carson & Partners, and members of the project team supporting Alumno Developments also include Fairhurst, Hawthorne Boyle and Turner and Townsend.

Construction commencing on the project follows a successful collaboration between Alumno and Kier at Dumbarton Road in Glasgow’s West End last year.

Brian McQuade, managing director of Kier Construction’s Scotland and north-east England business, said: “We look forward to transforming the site into modern and sustainable student flats – providing much needed accommodation for those attending Aberdeen’s further education facilities.

“But it won’t just be the students who benefit – this project has allowed us to create a new graduate quantity surveyor post at Kier too.

“We are delighted to be working with Alumno Developments once again. The project in Glasgow’s West End was hugely successful and we have no doubt that this development will be just as popular.”