Tide Construction Ltd. Begins Volumetric Installation at 424-Unit Student Housing Tower in Southall
Tide Construction Ltd. has begun installing volumetric units at The Green, a 23-storey purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Southall, West London, the firm announced on Oct. 9, 2026. The building will deliver 424 student studio rooms, and Tide is working toward completion for the 2027 academic year.
The Green is located at 13–19 The Green in the London Borough of Ealing, at the corner of The Green, South Road and Hortus Road. The firm said volumetric installation is now well underway, marking a significant milestone in the construction programme.
The Green PBSA Scheme: Project Details
The Green is a single 23-storey building. In addition to the 424 studio rooms, the scheme includes amenity spaces, dedicated cycle parking, servicing arrangements and a series of public realm improvements along the frontage.
Tide Construction said the installation enables it to maintain momentum toward completion for the 2027 academic year. Planning has been achieved for the project.
First Volumetric Scheme to Achieve Gateway 2 Approval
According to Tide Construction, The Green is the UK's first volumetric scheme to achieve Gateway 2 approval under the Building Safety Act. The firm described the approval as an important milestone for modern methods of construction.
Gateway 2 is the regulatory stage that must be cleared before construction can proceed on a high-rise project. Approvals at this stage had delayed project starts across the sector.
Southall Location and Transport Links
The site is close to key public transport nodes and the strategic road network, providing connectivity to central London, west London, Heathrow Airport and destinations further afield. It is near Southall station and the Elizabeth Line.
The area is undergoing rapid transformation following the opening of the Elizabeth Line, which has strengthened Southall's position within London's wider growth corridor.
Volumetric Construction and Programme Timing
A Turner & Townsend Alinea analysis cited by Tide found that volumetric construction produced a 44% shorter programme than a comparable traditional approach, while the overall capital-cost difference was 0.4%. The analysis found structural costs approximately 8% lower and internal communal-finish costs nearly 16% lower in the volumetric model.
Shorter programmes are relevant where completion must align with a fixed academic-year opening, as is the case at The Green.
Tide Construction Financial and Operating Context
Tide Construction's turnover fell 42% to £109 million in the year ended Aug. 31, 2025, while pre-tax profit declined to £2.3 million from £4.9 million. The decline was attributed to project start delays while the company awaited Building Safety Regulator approvals.
The company ended the period with £41 million of net assets and almost £13 million of cash reserves. Following approvals for several projects, Tide said it was progressing schemes with a combined value exceeding £500 million. The company has delivered seven of the world's 10 tallest modular towers, and its broader platform includes more than 3,000 homes under construction and more than £4 billion of delivered real estate.
PBSA Market Backdrop
The scheme is being delivered into a PBSA market with strong long-term demand but uneven near-term conditions. BNP Paribas Real Estate has reported softer demand in some locations, partly linked to changes in international postgraduate visa rules and more domestic students choosing to remain at home. Undergraduate applications at leading UK universities have remained robust, and structural shortages of PBSA beds support the longer-term occupancy outlook in supply-constrained markets.
BONARD's 2026 UK PBSA research covers approximately 755,000 beds across 3,509 assets in 113 locations. The market remains location-sensitive, with well-connected areas and constrained purpose-built supply generally favoring stronger leasing prospects.
Outlook
The Green gives Tide Construction a high-rise test of volumetric delivery against a fixed academic-year deadline, following the regulatory clearance that preceded installation. Completion is targeted for the 2027 academic year.
Sources
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