Bristol Beds Increase to 2445

Unite Group PLC
12 June 2001

Date:               12 June 2001

Embargoed until:     0700hrs



UNITE Brings Number of Secured Beds in Bristol to 2,445

The UNITE Group plc, the UK's leading specialist provider of student and NHS
key worker accommodation services, today announced that it has secured a
further 505 beds in Bristol.

Market Gate, which is situated in Bond Street, will be completely refurbished
to create 505 new en-suite, standard and studio rooms for students and key
workers. It will bring the total number of beds in Bristol to 2,445.

UNITE's new site in Bristol, already has planning permission for student
accommodation incorporating retail space on the ground floor. The property is
located in the heart of the City centre, adjacent to the proposed extension to
the main Broadmead shopping district.

The new accommodation will be delivered for the start of the 2002 academic
year and on completion, the scheme will be valued at approximately £19
million.

Commenting on the new scheme, Nicholas Porter, Chief Executive of UNITE, said:

'We are delighted that we will be able to offer a further 505 high quality,
value-for-money rooms in the Bristol area. UNITE has a significant national
presence and this new scheme further supports our commitment to our key target
towns. The Market Gate site is in a prime city centre location. In addition we
will be focusing on bringing further value and services to our customers in
the region.'

Press Enquiries to:

Nicholas Porter, Chief Executive                      Tel: [phone]

The UNITE Group plc

Emma Kane, Chief Executive                     Tel: [phone]

Redleaf Communications Ltd                     Mob: [phone]

About UNITE

  * UNITE was founded in 1991 by Nicholas Porter.
  * UNITE is the UK's leading specialist provider of accommodation services
    for students and key workers.
  * Further information is available at the Company's website at
    www.unite-group.co.uk
  * www.bunk.com is a comprehensive, on-line accommodation service for
    university students launched by UNITE in September 2000.

Extracts from Recent Research

As the UK's leading specialist provider of student and key worker
accommodation, UNITE is committed to maximising its understanding of all
markets it operates in. UNITE's recent Student Living Report, conducted by
MORI, revealed that:

Type Of Degree Studied

  * 54% of students in the North of the UK believe they will come away with
    a First or 2.1. Students in the South and Wales are least optimistic about
    getting a good degree with 37% of students studying in the South think
    they will get a First or a 2:1 and, in Wales, only 14% are optimistic
    about getting a First or a 2:1.

Finances

  * More students studying in the North and Northern Ireland owe money (29%)
    than their counterparts in Scotland (12%) and Wales (9%). 20% of students
    owe money in the South.

Crime


  * Students in the North/Northern Ireland are the most concerned about
    their personal safety. Those in Scotland and Wales feel the safest from
    the threat of crime against the person.

Technical Note:

MORI conducted 1,103 face-to-face interviews with full-time undergraduate and
postgraduate students between 15th October and 23rd November 2000.