UK & Ireland

Plans have been submitted to build new student accommodation in a popular area of Glasgow's west end. New proposals by Danehurst Developments Ltd were submitted to Glasgow City Council. It would see the site from 63-77 Otago Street turned into 'purpose built student accommodation'.

The UK-focused Elite Commercial REIT has announced an expansion of its investment strategy to include purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). One of the REIT’s sponsors, Sunway RE Capital, owns a portfolio of five PBSA assets in four UK cities. In an April 15 statement, the REIT manager says it will tap this sponsor’s expertise in the sector.

Plans to build a 28-storey student accommodation building in Cardiff city centre have been given the go-ahead. Cardiff Council’s planning committee voted unanimously in favour of approving the building, which will include commercial floorspace on the ground floor and a roof terrace on the 11th floor.

An empty Edinburgh call centre could become hundreds of student rooms and 65 flats under fresh plans. Finance House on Orchard Brae has been the subject of plans for residential developments before but the ground has never been broken.

Mapletree Investments is pleased to announce its acquisition of 8,192 operational beds across 19 cities in the UK and Germany, and an operating platform from Cuscaden Peak Investments. The operating platform manages two brands, namely Student Castle and Capitol Students.

London-based developer, Manner, has submitted updated plans for its Hotspur Press building scheme, in Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor, which will add an extra floor and a further 17 apartments.

Real estate investment business Global Mutual has launched a public consultation on proposals for conversion of office space at the St Johns Centre, in Leeds, into new student accommodation.

Paragon Bank’s development finance division has supported real estate investment management company Frogmore with a £17.55m funding facility to renovate a 690-bedroom PBSA property near Coventry and Warwick universities.

Revised plans for Finance House at Orchard Brae have been submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning department.

South Western House in Glen Fern Road, Bournemouth, could be converted into 137 “high quality” student rooms under major new plans. Each of the 137 rooms will come with a bed, en-suite shower room, study area and kitchenette – all ranging between 12.2 sq m to 21.1 sq m.