Queen’s University, Belfast, has unveiled plans to invest up to £100 million over the next four years to address the rising demand for student accommodation in the city. This move comes in light of an anticipated “unprecedented upsurge” in the need for student housing, with projections indicating a requirement for an additional 3,000 rooms for Queen’s University students alone within the next five years.

The university’s proactive approach has led to the acquisition of three strategic sites across Belfast, namely Dublin Road, Laganbank, and Brunswick Street. These sites are earmarked for the development of sustainable accommodations, catering to the university’s students, staff, and their families.

The city of Belfast, which currently hosts 45,000 full-time students pursuing third-level education, is poised to benefit from this significant investment. Notably, a recent UK-wide report from StuRents highlighted an impending shortfall of approximately 450,000 student beds by 2025, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The first site set for development is Dublin Road, where contractors GRAHAM anticipate the construction of up to 460 student rooms. A public consultation regarding this site is already underway.

Caroline Young, Vice President of Students and Corporate Services at Queen’s, emphasized the university’s commitment to providing high-quality, affordable, and safe housing options in close proximity to the campus. She also highlighted Belfast’s competitive edge as one of the top university cities in the UK and Ireland in terms of offering value for money for student accommodation.