A new student accommodation project, Rialto House, has started on site in York, with main contractor GMI progressing with pilling. The project is being developed by Olympian Homes, in partnership with Cain International, and constructed by GMI Construction.

Rialto House will replace the former Mecca Bingo Hall on Fishergate, which has been demolished. The scheme will provide 275 high-quality student bedrooms, over 80,000 sq ft, in a four-storey building. The development will also feature a range of amenities, such as a gym, yoga studio, cinema, games room, co-working and group dining areas, and landscaped courtyards.

The site is located within an area of archaeological importance and adjacent to the Central Core Historic Conservation Area. The project name, Rialto House, pays homage to the history of the site, which was once a cinema that hosted The Beatles in 1963.

The project is expected to be completed in 2025 and will help address the undersupply of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in York, which has the highest demand for PBSA in the country. The scheme is a short bus ride from the University of York.