Asset type	Re-development
Location	Durham
Capacity	45 beds
Seller	Durham County Council
Buyer	WGI
Value	N/A

Hopper House

Source: Durham County Council

The firm has acquired the 18,000 sq ft Hopper House on Atherton Street for an undisclosed consideration. On April 16, it has obtained planning approval to redevelop the asset into a 45-bed PBSA scheme.

The proposed development will feature fully self-contained studio units, complemented by premium amenities including a residents’ gym, landscaped study courtyard, and cinema room. The scheme will also incorporate dedicated office space to serve as Ward Group Investments’ new headquarters.

Construction is expected to commence in early summer 2026, with delivery led by group company Viaduct Residences. Completion is targeted ahead of the 2027 academic intake.

Strategic context

The transaction follows the £30 million acquisition of the 178-bed Three Tuns PBSA scheme in Durham. The asset comprises a mix of studio and apartment units arranged across three residential blocks.

Originally a Grade II-listed coaching inn, the property was repositioned in 2019 from the historic Three Tuns Hotel into a PBSA asset under the Elvet Residences brand.