Ward Group Investments expands Durham student living portfolio
Ward Group Investments is continuing to grow its presence in Durham’s purpose-built student accommodation market through investment in both established and new developments.
Alongside its £30m acquisition and £500,000 upgrade of the Three Tuns, the Group has acquired Hopper House on Atherton Street from Durham County Council. The 18,000 sq ft former office building had stood vacant for 12 years and has secured planning approval for a new 45-bed student development.
Plans for Hopper House include modern studio apartments, a residents’ gym, cinema room and landscaped study garden. The development will also provide new office space for Ward Group Investments’ headquarters, further strengthening the company’s long-term commitment to Durham.
The project will bring a long-vacant building back into productive use while helping meet continued demand for high-quality student accommodation in the city. Construction was scheduled to commence in summer 2026, with the scheme targeting the 2027 academic year.
Together, the Three Tuns and Hopper House demonstrate Ward Group Investments’ strategy of acquiring, repositioning and actively managing high-quality student accommodation assets with long-term potential.
