Image credit: Unite Students

Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation, has acquired a prime development site in Zone 1 London. The new property in Southwark will provide 444 beds and is set to be ready for the 2027/28 academic year. This acquisition is part of Unite Students’ strategic plan to support the growth of its university partners by offering new student homes in central London.

The Kings Place development, located on Borough High Street near Borough Underground Station, will include 308 studio flats and 136 en-suite cluster rooms for students. Additionally, the project will feature eight key worker residential apartments and approximately 18,000 sq. ft. of workspace accommodation. The scheme promises excellent connectivity to institutions such as Kings College London and the University of the Arts London.

Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, stated, “We are delighted with the acquisition of Kings Place; a high-quality development in a central London location close to a range of London’s leading universities and Borough Underground Station. This new acquisition is an exciting development and benefits from full planning permission, allowing us to start demolition soon for a swift delivery for the 2027/28 academic year.”

Unite Students’ London development pipeline now totals 3,200 beds for delivery over the next five years, with a total planned investment of over £800 million. This includes the Hawthorne House project, which will deliver 716 new beds and a new home for the London Academy of Excellence, a sixth form, by the 2026/27 academic year.

The acquisition of Kings Place will be a focal point at upcoming property networking events and real estate networking events in London. Industry professionals seeking insights on “Who are the biggest property investors in the UK?” will find Unite Students’ strategic moves noteworthy. These developments will also be discussed at various construction events and infrastructure events in the city.

For those wondering “How do I win property contracts?” or “How do I win construction contracts?”, attending these events will provide valuable networking opportunities and guidance.

Unite Students is committed to providing high-quality, safe, and affordable accommodation that supports the entire university experience. The company’s Sustainability Strategy aims to achieve net zero carbon across its operations and developments by 2030, guided by its Sustainable Construction Framework.

This acquisition and the ongoing projects are set to be discussed at investment networking events and will undoubtedly be mentioned in various networking guides due to their strategic importance and scale.