en.Wedoany.com Reported - Contractor HG Construction has been granted approval to commence work on the Apex student accommodation project, comprising 239 studios, at Plymouth Grove in Manchester, developed by Far East Orchard.

The developer and contractor have secured Gateway 2 approval, a mandatory pre-construction phase step under the Building Safety Act, clearing the way for site works to begin.

This project marks Far East Orchard's first development in Manchester and is expected to be completed ahead of the September 2028 intake.

Alan Tang, Group Chief Executive Officer of Far East Orchard, stated that securing Gateway 2 approval at Plymouth Grove reflects the company's strength in development and technical expertise under the UK's more stringent building safety regime. As a development undertaken through the FESAD fund, this milestone supports the execution of the fund's value creation strategy, while enhancing Far East Orchard's capability to initiate, develop, and manage high-quality PBSA assets in UK university towns.

WUKPG had previously secured planning permission for the eight-storey Manchester student project before selling the site to Far East Orchard last year for £11.5 million.

Designed by DAY Architectural, this project is the second acquisition by investors through the FESAD fund. Far East Orchard holds a 50% stake in the fund, having previously purchased land in Glasgow last year for a 273-bed project. Aurum Investments (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woh Hup Holdings) and an unrelated third party hold 21.4% and 28.6% stakes, respectively.

The Apex project team also includes e3p, XO Square, Kings, Jensen Hughes, Eddisons, Paul Butler Associates, and Element Sustainability.