Crédit Agricole CIB has provided a £66 million Green Senior Secured Development Facility for AustralianSuper, facilitating the construction of a new student accommodation project in Bristol.

Target Information

Crédit Agricole CIB has successfully finalized a £66 million Green Senior Secured Development Facility for AustralianSuper, marking a significant milestone as the Bank’s inaugural direct bilateral transaction with the Australian pension giant within the United Kingdom. This agreement was closed on November 26, 2025, with funding commencing on December 1, 2025. This development not only reflects the ongoing strengthening of the relationship between Crédit Agricole CIB and AustralianSuper—Australia's largest superannuation fund with assets exceeding A$400 billion as of September 30, 2025—but also underscores AustralianSuper's increasing focus on the UK student accommodation sector.

The project involves a state-of-the-art purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) establishment located in Bristol's Temple Quarter, an area currently undergoing significant transformation. The development will consist of 454 accommodation units, featuring 82% en-suites and 18% studios, all intended for direct letting. Strategically situated just an eight-minute walk from the new University of Bristol campus, scheduled for completion in 2026, this offering will include modern amenities such as a gym, study lounges, and social areas, aiming for practical completion in October 2027 after approximately 25 months of development.

Industry Overview in the UK

The student accommodation market in the UK, particularly in cities like Bristol, is undergoing substantial growth driven by strong demand and a significant undersupply of suitable accommodation. Bristol is home to approximately 70,000 students across two prominent universities, yet it ha