UK & Ireland

Property developer Downing has acquired a 14-storey student accommodation scheme set to take shape in Newcastle city centre. The derelict site in Heber Street was home to Lock and Key and the attached NE4 cafe until it was destroyed by as fire in 2015, eventually leading to its demolition.

Yorkshire-based Urbanite Living has placed a portfolio of five, freehold, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) assets on the market for sale, with an asking price of £130m. All five schemes comprising 999 beds are located in the student cities of Leeds, York, Sheffield, and Glasgow.

Working with client Dominus for Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Hotwells' purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) proposal is a crafted tower that encourages community on Stratford High Street, London.

A student accommodation building located in Dublin 2, close to St Stephen’s Green and Grafton Street, has come to the market with an €80m price tag.

One-stop property management solution Opago has announced the acquisition of the assets of defunct proptech company Staykeepers. The acquisition is also seen as an opportunity for Opago to revive and build upon the legacy of a business which it described as “once standing out as a beacon in the intersection of the short-term rental and purpose-built student accommodation [PBSA] markets”.

An institutional investor has purchased a distinctive purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Cardiff city centre. Kimmre advised on the £13m deal. Acting on behalf of clients of Mutual Finance, global property consultancy Knight Frank, alongside joint agent Lewis & Partners, has sold Livin Cardiff.

Downing has announced the successful acquisition of the former Bennett’s field car park by the Amex Stadium in Brighton, following its successful planning application at the end of last year.

Consultancy company Beachrock has sold Chamberlain Place, a PBSA property in Birmingham to Apollo Global Management for £32.5m. The deal reflects a net initial yield of 5.75% or £142,000 per student bedroom.

In a phased development, Whitbread intends to replace the existing hotel and restaurant with a larger, latest format Premier Inn and introduce new purpose-built accommodation for students as well as new homes

The site is located less than a 3-minite walk from the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus which is due to open to 4,500 new students in 2026.