The deal means Vinci Construction can now start work on a £91m contract to deliver 1,182 homes in a series of new blocks at the University’s Streatham Campus.

The scheme will comprise a mixture of standard, en-suite and enhanced accessible bedrooms and will represent the largest build of on-campus accommodation at the University since 2012.

It forms part of a plan to create an additional 1,500 bedrooms in total.

Buildings are set across three terraces and organised around a central green corridor

The new accommodation is set to open in two phases from September 2020 and September 2021.

Richard Bienfait, Chief Executive Officer of UPP, said: “This new project is a testament to the strength of our bespoke, long-term partnership with the University of Exeter, first formed in 2009.

“When complete, we will operate over 4,000 on-campus residences in Exeter, in continued support of the University’s strategy and providing the very best student experience.”

It is the third on-campus scheme currently underway between UPP and the University of Exeter, with the £41m Moberly and Spreytonway projects – consisting of 250 and 131 beds respectively – already under construction and due for occupation by September 2020.