Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in the UK

Student housing development opportunities. This guide walks through the planning route, the most common refusal reasons, and how Scapely's University Pipeline Tracker de-risks the deal at scan-time.

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) by council

The viability of purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) swings sharply with local Article 4 designations, Gateway status and build cost. See council-specific guidance below:

• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in City of London Corporation — £3500/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in City of Westminster — £3400/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Camden — £3200/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Islington — £3100/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Hackney — £2900/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Tower Hamlets — £3000/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Royal Borough of Greenwich — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Lewisham — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Southwark — £3000/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Lambeth — £2950/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Wandsworth — £2850/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham — £3100/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea — £3500/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Waltham Forest — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Redbridge — £2600/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Havering — £2500/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham — £2500/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Newham — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Bexley — £2500/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Bromley — £2600/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Croydon — £2650/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Sutton — £2550/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Merton — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames — £2750/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames — £2850/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Hounslow — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Hillingdon — £2500/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Ealing — £2750/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Brent — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Harrow — £2650/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Barnet — £2700/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Haringey — £2750/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in London Borough of Enfield — £2600/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Manchester City Council — £2150/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Salford City Council — £2050/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Liverpool City Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Bolton Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council — £2000/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Leeds City Council — £1950/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Sheffield City Council — £1950/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in City of York Council — £2150/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Hull City Council — £1800/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council — £1850/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Newcastle City Council — £1850/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Sunderland City Council — £1800/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Birmingham City Council — £2100/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Coventry City Council — £1950/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in City of Wolverhampton Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Nottingham City Council — £2050/sqm, Gateway 3, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Leicester City Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Derby City Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Bristol City Council — £2300/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Bath and North East Somerset Council — £2400/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Plymouth City Council — £1950/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Exeter City Council — £2100/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council — £2150/sqm, Gateway 2
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Brighton & Hove City Council — £2500/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Southampton City Council — £2150/sqm, Gateway 2
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Portsmouth City Council — £2100/sqm, Gateway 2
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Reading Borough Council — £2400/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Oxford City Council — £2650/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Milton Keynes City Council — £2200/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Cambridge City Council — £2600/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Norwich City Council — £2050/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Peterborough City Council — £1950/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Cardiff Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Swansea Council — £1850/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Glasgow City Council — £1950/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in City of Edinburgh Council — £2150/sqm, Gateway 2, Article 4 active
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Aberdeen City Council — £1900/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Dundee City Council — £1850/sqm, Gateway 1
• Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Belfast City Council — £1850/sqm, Gateway 1