An £11m contract for student accommodation was signed this week at groundbreaking ceremonies in a Stirling university campus.

Graham Construction has won the framework contract to build the first phase of a three-stage, multimillion-pound redevelopment of 40% of the University of Stirling's existing accommodation.

It is the largest capital project at the university since it was created in the late 1960s.

A spokesman said the dwellings would "meet the expectations of today's students" and allow Stirling to compete with other universities around the word on the halls front.

He said: "The project will also help maintain Stirling's enviable position as a place where student satisfaction with the all round campus experience is high."

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788 individual study bedrooms in four separate locations will converge on kitchens with dining space, and the university pledged students would have "better connections" to the beautiful green grounds on campus.

And the university has set its sights on a BREEAM 'excellent' environmental performance rating for the project.

Graham has experience in delivering new student accommodation and is already working on a number of other projects at universities across Scotland and the UK.

Gary Holmes of the company said: "We are proud to be delivering this first class accommodation for the University of Stirling and look forward to providing a welcoming environment which promotes learning among students."

Karen Plouviez of the university said the accommodation project was "tremendously exciting in terms of further enhancing the university's appeal to students, and the commercial conference and events business that is so important to our financial sustainability".

The redevelopment will be completed in 2015.

Front page: Professor Gerry McCormac (left), Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of Stirling and Michael Graham, executive chairman of Graham Group, walk in front of old student flats that will be demolished.

This page: Staff from the University of Stirling and the Graham Group get ready for the start of work.

(NE/GK)