Pritchatt’s House
The Pritchatts Park Student Village forms part of the University of Birmingham’s largest residential investment to date. Designed to accommodate over 1,200 students, the development reflects the university’s push toward more sustainable, low-carbon student living. Central was appointed by EQUANS to carry out specialist roofing works across multiple areas of the site.
- Client
- Equans
- Timescale
- 12 months
- Date
- March 2025
- Budget
- £1m
- Project Manager
- Jon Price , Birmingham
- Project Location
- Birmingham
After
Before
task
Several areas of the estate featured degraded or non-operational roof systems, including a derelict building and underperforming metal and felt roofs. One of the primary goals was to refurbish rather than demolish, given the site’s conservation area status. The roofing was no longer fit for purpose and required a complete overhaul to allow for solar PV integration and to meet the university’s energy efficiency ambitions.
approach
Unexpected issues with deck falls required a full redesign in collaboration with the project architect to ensure suitable drainage performance. Logistical constraints were considerable, with no on-site parking available. All tools, materials, and personnel were coordinated through alternative arrangements, and deliveries had to be scheduled carefully to align with shared hoist access and other contractor activities. Conservation restrictions meant that refurbishment was prioritised over demolition. Despite these complexities, strong collaboration with EQUANS and the University enabled successful delivery of a high-performing and visually cohesive roofing system.
solution
Over a 12-month programme, Central delivered a full 1,900m² roofing refurbishment across four phased areas. The main roof involved structural upgrades, with rotten joists replaced and new joists and plywood decks installed to support the weight of a new PV system. The existing felt and stramit board were stripped back to joists, with internal outlets closed off and parapet drainage systems introduced to improve water management. A tapered insulation scheme was applied, followed by Alumasc’s vapour control layer, torch-on underlay and capsheet, and GRP perimeter detailing. Non-destructive leak detection was carried out on all areas post-completion.
In the Octagon area, the roof was stripped, primed, and re-roofed with a full vapour control and insulation system, while internal outlets and trims were fully replaced. The corridor area involved full strip and replacement of the rooflights, edge timbering, and insulation build-up. Finally, the Hub saw the existing metal roof overclad with new Euroclad sheeting, fixed over Z-bars with a new perimeter trim.