The scheme is one of the biggest regeneration projects in the Midlands, and work on the second phase has been cleared to start following the completion of Phase 1 by Carillion.

BAM Construction Midlands has finished working up the design element of the student accommodation and has started preliminary works on site.

The job is a coup for Bam Construction, which has been making in roads with Aston University, after recently remodelling and completing a £3m library frontage job for the University.

Richard Dakin, director of BAM in the Midlands, said: “We will bring to this project BAM’s high standard of construction, collaborative working and community engagement.”

Dakin confirmed that Ian French, who recently completed the highly-regarded Severn Trent Centre in Coventry, would lead BAM’s on-site construction team.

DSM Demolition has nearly completed demolition of existing buildings, including two existing 1970s high-rise accommodation towers under a £5m contract.

The high-rise blocks will be replaced by two blocks of accommodation of between four and 18 storeys, providing 1,053 en-suite student bedrooms and shared facilities.

Two residential blocks, providing 1,300 high-specification en-suite rooms, were constructed by Carillion as part of Phase 1.