London Housing Targets Given Boost by Student Accommodation

Number of student homes approved in London up 474% in two years

The number of student homes approved in London has risen 474% in two years and is forecast to grow further this year, a report has found.

London housing targets given boost by student accommodation

New research from Lichfields shows that, since 2021, London has approved planning for more than 26,000 student bedrooms After years of low-delivery rates, London housing targets are looking more realistic after 2024 and Q1 2025 saw a surge in approvals. This is in large part thanks to the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) targets, with 26,000 student bedrooms approved since 2021, equivalent to 10,500 conventional homes. More accommodati…

Student housing approvals offer boost to London’s housing targets, new research finds

London has approved more than 26,000 student bedrooms since 2021, according to new research from national planning and development consultancy Lichfields. A recent surge in planning approvals during 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 is providing cause for optimism after several years of under-delivery against the capital’s purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) targets. Under the Greater London Authority’s methodology, the PBSA rooms in the…