Category: Development Activity

Student accommodation provider Unite Students is set to build a landmark PBSA development, Meridian Square, in east London. It will be among the biggest in its portfolio.

Unite Students has acquired the Stratford site next to Meridian Steps near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre.

The company has also received full planning permission for the scheme, which was supported by University College London. The development is expected to complete in 2028.

The Meridian Square scheme will deliver 952-beds in a 41-storey building. 333 beds will be let at affordable rents, 30 beds will be in self-contained studio flats, and the remaining are in shared flats of five to ten bedrooms. One in ten bedrooms will also be wheelchair accessible …

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Canada Life Asset Management have been granted planning permission for the development of a new purpose-built student accommodation development (PBSA) scheme, in partnership with the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE).

The site will be close to UWE’s Frenchay campus, and will include 330 student bedrooms. Bowmer and Kirkland has been selected as the main contractor and works are due to start in Q3 2024 …

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McAleer & Rushe have announced practical completion at The Place, a new PBSA scheme in Nottingham for MRP Investment & Development.

Achieving practical completion on 23 August, the 11-storey ‘L’ shaped layout development offers 409 new student residences in Nottingham city centre, serving as a spectacular addition to their growing portfolio of PBSA projects in the Midlands.

Located on a brownfield site at the junction of Queens Road and London Road, The Place PBSA development is next to Nottingham Railway Station.

The Place scheme offers students stunning panoramic views of the city and a host of amenities including a sky roof lounge, gym, private dining room, and dedicated study spaces designed to elevate the student living experience …

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Bricks Group, development and management specialists in the student and co-living sectors, has secured £84.5m in funding from London Wall Lending to support the delivery of high-end Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) on a former Royal Mail site in Nottingham.

The landmark new scheme will see the transformation of the former Bendigo Building site in the center of the city, which lay vacant for nearly two decades before its demolition in 2023. Once complete, the scheme will contain 752 beds over 13-storeys, with the potential to rise to 781 beds subject to planning permission.

The accommodation will be managed by Bricks’ in-house operating brand, true student, building on its brand portfolio of more than 7,000 beds across the UK. It will also provide a range of indoor amenities and landscaped gardens as well as commercial units on the ground floor for residents and the neighbouring community …

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Proprium Capital Partners has announced that its Southern European PBSA platform with Collegiate AC Europe Ltd (Collegiate) is investing $100m of equity to acquire and develop two PBSA schemes in Italy, in the cities of Milan and Padua.

These two high-quality PBSA schemes are exceptionally well-located, with excellent public transport connectivity. They are both close to key universities in each city – Bicocca University in Milan and the University of Padua in Padua.

The two schemes will provide over 1,600 student accommodation beds, as well as providing its residents with state-of-the-art facilities. These include a gym, spa, outdoor sports facilities, cinema, private dining rooms, group study spaces, and vibrant indoor and outdoor living areas. There is also 24-hour security, high speed Wi-Fi, bike storage, and year-round events programmes …

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Invesco Real Estate, the $90bn global real estate investment business of Invesco Ltd, is to develop a 261 bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) asset in Manchester with student accommodation developer, Alumno. Invesco Real Estate was advised on this transaction by Lewis & Partners.

Set to complete in Q3 2026, the development site has been acquired on behalf of Invesco Real Estate Europe Fund III – SCSp (Europe III), the third European value-add strategy in succession for the firm.

“Market repricing and the temporary retreat of core capital have combined to open up a number of attractive opportunities around Europe in sectors with positive tailwinds such as PBSA. We expect Europe III to be active in this sector as well as others where the risk/return balance has moved in favour of value-add investors who are prepared to move with speed and conviction.”

Kevin Grundy, Managing Director – Fund Management, Europe, Invesco Real Estate …

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An Bord Pleanála has granted planning for a major student accommodation scheme on the Naas Road, Dublin 12, which will bring much-needed student housing to the city.

Designed HKR Architects for Hollybrook Homes, the Gowan House development will provide 899 purpose-built student rooms (including 44 accessible units and 24 studios) across buildings varying in height from thirteen to ten storeys. The masterplan includes shared community and cultural space, retail space and an attractive public realm on the River Camac.

An Bord Pleanála overturned a previous refusal by Dublin City Council at Gowan House because student residential was not an appropriate use on the site and the mass of the proposal was inappropriately large …

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Plans have been approved for a 454-bedroom Bristol PBSA development. It is just 300 metres from the University of Bristol’s £500M Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. The new Bristol PBSA scheme will help to alleviate the lack of appropriate student accommodation in the South West city.

Avon Capital Estates secures planning permission to redevelop its industrial site on the banks of the River Avon. The adjoining cycleway leads directly into the heart of the new campus and immediately next to the key footbridge connecting to Legal & General’s £350m Temple Island redevelopment.

The developer is already in negotiations with main contractors, anticipating occupation in 2027 …

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Proposals for almost 1,000 student rooms across two sites in Nottingham were given the go-ahead by Nottingham City Council’s planning committee on Wednesday afternoon (July 19).

Plans to build a major student accommodation scheme on the site of the former Sentinel building in the Southside regeneration area of Nottingham were voted through by councillors.

The scheme, by developer Jensco, includes 356 bedrooms made up of 222 cluster rooms, 112 studios and 22 studio suites, has been designed by CPMG and will reach 17 storeys at its tallest point …

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