Image credit: CGI of proposed scheme (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield)

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has received planning consent for a new development comprising 520 high-quality student beds atop the Westfield Stratford City car park. This initiative, part of URW’s long-term commitment to the regeneration of Stratford, aims to provide sustainable living spaces and community facilities. The development was approved unanimously by the planning committee on 23rd July 2024, with members welcoming URW’s approach to sustainability.

In addition to student accommodation, the project will feature a 30,000 sq ft publicly accessible rooftop park, offering leisure, sport, and play areas for the local community. Students will also have access to over 16,000 sq ft of dedicated high-quality amenity space. The design, shaped through consultations with groups like Make Space for Girls and Elevate, aims to create a safe and affordable housing option for students, addressing the competitive rental market in the area.

Sara Dawes, Deputy Head of Planning at LLDC, expressed support for the initiative, stating, “The LLDC was pleased to support this excellent scheme which promises to provide high quality student rooms and significant public benefit above Westfield Stratford City, along with improvements to the public realm. We were very welcoming of the clever design to extend on top of the existing centre and the sustainability benefits this provides.”

A unique aspect of the development is its location atop an existing structure, integrating existing utilities to enhance energy efficiency. This project aligns with URW’s mixed-use strategy and the company’s Better Places roadmap.

Scott Parsons, Chief Operating Officer of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, stated, “Delivering a high-quality, sustainable design that provides genuine community benefit was an important part of this process and something our team worked closely with local stakeholders and consultation groups on.”

Parsons highlighted the increasing need for student accommodation in Stratford, a key area for London’s regeneration, particularly with institutions like UCL and the London College of Fashion, UAL establishing themselves at the East Bank. He expressed satisfaction that the scheme will meet this critical need while also enhancing the community by offering accessible public spaces.

The project is expected to be a focal point at upcoming property networking events in London, where industry professionals can engage with the initiative and explore potential collaborations. Furthermore, sustainable development will be a key topic at UKREiiF 2025, as it has in all previous UKREiiF incarnations with various sessions dedicated to discussing eco-friendly innovations and practices in the industry.

To register your place at the UK’s biggest real estate and property festival, go to https://www.ukreiif.com/ukreiif-2025/ for tickets.