Year: 2009

A bright, bold building acting as a guiding light for the town’s regeneration or a blot on the landscape? Love it or hate it, this colourful new addition to Southend’s skyline is dividing opinion.

The University of Essex’s new student accommodation development in London Road is a landmark that can’t be missed, thanks to its height and distinctive multi-coloured panel cladding.

The building is set to open in October 2010 and will be used as halls of residence for 561 students, but is already splitting opinion into those who like its futuristic appearance and see it as a guiding light for the town’s regeneration and those who think it is a blot on the town’s landscape …

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A new £46 million complex that will be home to almost 1,000 students has opened on the site of a historic steel works and foundry close to Sheffield city centre.

Opal 3 Sheffield has been built to preserve parts of the Titanic Works on Hoyle Street, Shalesmoor, which is the home of an early 19th century Grade II-listed drop forge.

The complex will be used by both universities and is the third to be completed by Ocon Construction, which has now built 2,500 new student rooms in the city …

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Rental growth in the student accommodation sector remains robust, recording a growth of 5% a year over the last six years, compared to 0.6% for commercial property, according to Knight Frank.

In its latest report on student accommodation published today it said the market demand for university places continues to rise. Preliminary figures suggest a further increase in demand for places in the 2010/11 academic year, with UCAS reporting a 12% rise in applications at its October deadline.

Knight Frank said its 2010-11 early indicators show that student rents will continue to rise by 5%, in the ensuite market and high-end studios, particularly those in London, will remain static without any falls …

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TRINITY COLLEGE Dublin (TCD) plans to increase student numbers by 15 per cent and widen access for poorer students, according to its new strategic plan.

Trinity says the 2009-14 plan is designed to establish its position as one of the leading universities “which shape our world”.

Trinity has climbed six places to 43 in the latest Times Higher Education/QS World University Rankings. It is ranked as the 13th best university in Europe. The strategic plans sets out ambitious targets …

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A new £54million “village” for nearly 700 arts students has been officially unveiled in Tottenham.

The landmark Emily Bowes Court – the first stage of a massive redevelopment plan, cuts through the sky above Tottenham Hale Tube station, and will soon be home to 687 students.

Many will enjoy far-reaching views to the City from their purpose-built flats, which each boast three to five en-suite bedrooms, kitchen/lounge areas, contemporary furniture and internet access …

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Northern Developments’ £12m project will create energy efficient accommodation on current campus

The University of Sunderland, in partnership with student accommodation provider, U-Student.com, has announced plans to build a green student village.

The site, which will be known as The Forge – U Student Village, will be based at the current student campus, in Pallion, and will house 550 rooms, a shop and several social facilities …

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The student property sector offers positive and robust potential for real estate investors with restricted supply and strong demand, according to a new report.

There has been a 5% per annum growth over the last six years in the sector compared with just 0.6% for commercial property and the growth has been even higher in key university towns and cities, the Knight Frank Student Property Review 2009 shows.

As demand for university places continues to rise with a 12% increase in applications for places in the 2010/2011 academic year, the student accommodation sector is maturing and becoming recognized as an important element of the wider property investment market. Since mid 2009, there been increased demand for secure income producing assets and demonstrable yield compression, the report says …

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John Tonkiss, chief operating officer of UNITE Group, said today that we could see ‘flatline growth’ next year as the ‘real recession’ impacts on the UK populous.

Speaking at Property Week’s packed Student Accommodation 09 conference, Tonkiss said that the UK has experienced a corporate recession so far, but that next year the effects would be felt by real people.

The challenge for Unite, he said, would be to increase the company’s quality of service whilst dealing with issues of affordability and arrears …

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Rental growth in the student accommodation sector remains robust, recording growth of 5.0 per cent per annum over the last six years, compared to 0.6 per cent for commercial property. 

Substantially higher growth was achieved in key university towns over the last academic year. 

Demand for university places continues to rise. Preliminary figures suggest a further increase in demand for places in the 2010/11 academic year, with UCAS reporting a 12 per cent rise in applications at its October deadline …

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A developer behind the next block of student flats due to go up in Preston’s booming student village has told city councillors to stop “suffocating” the city. 

Simon Price, managing director of Ice Blue Developments, said councillors who criticise the growth of UCLan’s city centre campus should consider the millions of pounds of investment it provides.

A number of flats schemes which have sprung up around the university have come under fire from Town Hall leaders who have called for more family homes to be built instead …

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