Property giant Vita Group, which is run by prominent businessman Mark Stott, is set to launch the first phase of its €350m European expansion with a new site in Barcelona.
The Alderley Edge-headquartered company will open its Vita Student Pedralbes in the Spanish city in September.
The development will be its first outside of the UK and will feature 274 beds.
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Vita Student currently has 22 schemes in operation across the U.K including sites in London, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Mr Stott, who serves as the group's chief executive, said: "It’s incredibly exciting to take the Vita Student brand into Europe and we’re confident that Barcelona will make the perfect host city thanks to its superb reputation for outstanding higher education on the international stage.
"Over the last three years we’ve been working tirelessly to create a proposition which truly reflects the brand in a new territory and we’re sure that Pedralbes and Poblenou will do just that for us in Spain."
The group will also launch Vita Student Poblenou in Barcelona, which will feature 349 beds, in early 2023.
Once Vita Student Poblenou is open, the group will directly employ over 50 new jobs in Barcelona, with total investment into the European expansion set to exceed €350m.
The business has said it is expected to indirectly contribute to c.750 jobs throughout Spain.
Ioannis Verdelis, director of international developments at Vita Group, added: "With a fantastic reputation for higher education, attracting over 40,000 students from all over the world each year and a student population which exceeds 210,000, Barcelona is the perfect place to start our European expansion programme.
"Vita Student Pedralbes will showcase our deep understanding of how to create and operate outstanding student accommodation which responds to its’ residents."
