GRAHAM has helped divert hundreds of items from landfill and maximise material reuse during the redevelopment of Cambridge Halls in Manchester, supporting the sustainability ambitions of the Unite Students and Manchester Metropolitan University partnership.
Working alongside the project team and supply chain partners, GRAHAM has embedded circular economy principles throughout the demolition and construction process, ensuring valuable materials and resources remain in use wherever possible.
As part of the partnership’s commitment to reducing waste and supporting local communities, Unite Students and Manchester Metropolitan University donated 581 items of furniture and white goods from the former student accommodation, worth approximately £47,000, to local charities and community groups.
Significant environmental benefits have also been achieved on site. GRAHAM helped divert 352 mattresses from landfill and recycled 13 tonnes of aluminium from waste window frames directly into new window frames, saving 70 tonnes of carbon.
In addition, 4,700 tonnes of material from the demolition works, equivalent to 216 lorry loads, has been crushed and reused on site, reducing waste, minimising transportation requirements and lowering the project’s overall environmental impact.
Watch the transformation of the Cambridge Halls site in the latest timelapse video below, capturing progress on the redevelopment that will deliver 2,302 modern, sustainable student homes while maximising opportunities for material reuse and recycling.
Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said:
The redevelopment of Cambridge Halls is a major investment in the future of student housing in Manchester, and it’s important we deliver the project in a responsible and sustainable way.
Together with the university, GRAHAM and our supply chain partners, we’re making every effort to reuse and recycle as much of the materials from the original site as possible, while also giving back to the local community.
Stephen Van den Hoek, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said:
Cambridge Halls shows how much a demolition can give back when cutting waste is built into the programme from the very first day. Diverting 352 mattresses from landfill and reusing crushed material on site has reduced both waste and carbon. This approach aligns closely with GRAHAM’s sustainability strategy, and it’s great to see those ambitions being put into practice here.
Our colleagues and supply chain partners are carrying that commitment through construction, with the same focus on reuse and recycling. We’ll keep working alongside Unite Students and Manchester Met to support local communities as 2,302 new student homes take shape on campus.
The project demonstrates GRAHAM’s commitment to delivering sustainable construction solutions that create lasting value for clients, communities and the environment, while supporting the delivery of high-quality student accommodation for future generations in Manchester.