Platinum accreditation demonstrates best-in-class connectivity for 321-bed student accommodation development

09 April 2025 McLaren Property, the leading residential and student accommodation developer, has been awarded a WiredScore Platinum accreditation for St Gabriel’s, the 321-bed student accommodation development in Manchester, delivered with funding partner Barings. St Gabriel’s is set to complete this summer and welcome students from autumn 2025.

WiredScore sets the global standard for technology in the built world through certification and education. The Platinum certification demonstrates that St Gabriel’s delivers a superior digital performance, with verified high-speed connectivity and convenience.

McLaren Property’s £70m redevelopment and restoration of St Gabriel’s Chapel and Lodge, designed by SimpsonHaugh, will provide new high-quality student accommodation, with a mix of cluster bedrooms (5-8 bed clusters with a communal kitchen and living space) and studio rooms, along with shared amenity space and new characterful courtyards and gardens.

Located at Oxford Place, adjacent to Oxford Road and south of the city centre, St Gabriel’s is close to the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University campuses.

McLaren Property is also targeting WiredScore certifications for Hinton Road in Bournemouth, a 170-bed purpose built student accommodation development; Upper Brook Street in Manchester, a 737-student bed development and 216,000 sq ft of life science space (developed by Kadans Science Partner) and Wellington Square in Leeds, a scheme comprising of 364,000 sq ft of workspace.

James Creevy, Development Director, McLaren Property said:

We’re thrilled that we’ve been awarded a WiredScore Platinum accreditation for St Gabriel’s. Through our redevelopment and restoration we’ve retained and brought back to life a heritage asset while also delivering superior digital connectivity, ensuring the building meets the needs of students now and in the future. In addition to St Gabriel’s we are excited to be partnering with WiredScore on a range of our developments, ensuring we deliver the very best in digital connectivity, across student accommodation and workspace.

Tom Vaughan-Fowler, Regional Director, UK, Ireland & Middle East, WiredScore, commented:

It’s been a pleasure partnering with McLaren Property on their certification at St Gabriel’s. Excellent digital connectivity is now essential in student accommodation, supporting everything from studying to socialising. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership on more projects like this.

About WiredScore:

About WiredScore WiredScore is the organization behind the WiredScore and SmartScore certifications: the internationally recognised digital connectivity and smart building rating systems for real estate, helping landlords design and promote buildings with powerful digital connectivity and smart capabilities.

A champion of cutting-edge technology in real estate, WiredScore assesses, certifies and improves digital connectivity and smart technology in offices and homes on a global scale, ensuring that buildings provide the best-in-class infrastructure that businesses and individuals require to thrive.