Giant US student developer submits plans for 500 beds in Birmingham

Recent studies have identified an undersupply of PBSA in Birmingham, with a shortfall of up to 31,065 student beds. Student numbers are expected to grow as the city aspires to create the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, a £4bn innovation superhub.

Landmark claims to have a UK pipeline of more than 3,000 beds, and the scheme is set to be the first of several new schemes the developer has secured over the past year. The developer has an aim to become a leading player in European PBSA.

The 120 Suffolk Street development was designed by Glancy Nicholls Architects, which worked in collaboration with Birmingham Council to develop the approach.

Landmark specialises in the acquisition, development and management of residential communities, with over $15bn (£11.9bn) in assets.

The developer’s portfolio includes more than 115 residential communities across the US and more than 72,000 beds under management. Its pipeline includes more than 50 student and multi-family projects under construction or near-term start, valued at over $10bn (£7.5bn).

Tristram Taylor, development manager at Landmark Properties, said: “Subject to achieving a planning consent in the coming months, we are looking forward to kick-starting construction and delivery as soon as possible thereafter.”

This month, Landmark completed its first land acquisition in the UK, with plans to build a 225-bed PBSA scheme on William Road in central London. The site is a 10-minute walk from University College London, Euston Station and Regent’s Park.

In a joint venture, developer Moda Living and asset manager Aermont Capital bought a brownfield site in west London to build a student housing scheme worth £300m.

Growth of PBSA varies across the UK. Brent Council issued a statement earlier this month proposing a temporary pause on PBSA planning consents in Wembley, where most of the borough’s student housing is concentrated.

The council warned that if recent trends were to continue for the next three years in Wembley, there could be “a potential imbalance in Brent of priority housing needs being met and, longer term, an imbalanced and mixed community occurring”.