A FIRM has been appointed to manage a new £28m student development in central Southampton.

Bouygues Development has inked a deal with Knightsbridge Student Housing to run its 14- storey, 467-bed building in St Mary’s Road.

Knightsbridge Student Housing will fund the scheme, which also includes 288sq m of retail units, and manage the accommodation through the Student Housing Company.

Construction work has begun on site, with the new building expected to be completed for students to move in at the beginning of the academic year starting September 2016.

Bouygues Development’s managing director, Nicolas Guerin, said: “With our development experience combined with their expertise in marketing and managing student accommodation schemes, we are confident we have the right team in place to provide a first-rate development that will breathe new life into the local area.”