Unite Students has received Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator for its new 41-storey purpose-built student accommodation tower in Stratford, east London. The decision enables the project to move from pre-construction into the main construction phase, marking a major milestone for one of the largest student developments currently planned in the capital.

The scheme will deliver 952 student bedrooms in a mix of shared flats and studios, including a substantial proportion offered at discounted affordable rents. Plans also include roof terraces, study and amenity areas, and between 10,000 and 11,500 square feet of commercial space that will house workspace, retail, and community or social-enterprise uses.

Located beside Meridian Steps at the entrance to Westfield Stratford City, the development sits within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and London Legacy Development Corporation area. As part of the project, Unite will provide a new entrance and exit to Stratford Underground Station, helping to alleviate congestion and expand local transport capacity.

The tower already holds full planning permission from the London Legacy Development Corporation, with Gateway 2 clearance confirming that its detailed design and construction plans meet the requirements of the higher-risk building regime under the Building Safety Act. This approval allows main works to begin once remaining pre-construction conditions are satisfied.

Unite is targeting completion for the 2028–29 academic year. BDP is acting as architect on the scheme, and Unite is progressing a long-term nomination agreement with University College London that would see more than half of the rooms allocated to UCL students.