Miller Construction and Balfour Beatty Student Accommodation have entered into competitive dialogue to design, build, finance and operate 1,000 student rooms.

Building work on the Penglais Farm new student residences is planned to begin in late 2012 with the first students expected to take up residence in September 2014.

Construction costs are expected to be in the region of £40m.

Pick Everard is providing technical advice on overall build quality and advising on the merits, suitability and costs of different construction methods and programmes being put forward.

Bids will be assessed on the basis of whole life costing to ensure that best value can be achieved.

James Wallace, Residential Development Director at Aberystwyth University commented: “We are pleased with the progress made with the competitive dialogue process, and the quality of submissions, as the University remains on schedule to provide the very best possible residential student experience for the future.

“It is anticipated that the Phase 3 of the competitive dialogue will be complete by late spring with selection of a preferred bidder, and with financial close expected by the end of the summer 2012, so that the University’s handover target date of 2014 is achieved.”