Unite Students on track to complete flagship London property

• Unite Students’ 719-bed Hawthorne House property in Stratford, London is set to complete this summer ahead of the 2026/27 academic year 
• The 36-storey purpose-built student accommodation includes six floors for the London Academy of Excellence sixth form 
• University of the Arts London has secured a multi-year agreement to lease more than half the rooms 

Unite Students is on track to complete the construction of its flagship Hawthorne House property in Stratford, London this summer. 

The 719-bed development is progressing as scheduled and main works are expected to be completed in June 2026.  

Unite Students will then submit its Gateway 3 application to the Building Safety Regulator, having already secured Gateway 2 approval for Hawthorne House. 

Demand for the new development has been strong and rooms are on course to be fully occupied for the 2026/27 academic year.  

The property is located close to Stratford station and a range of university campuses, including the London College of Fashion, part of the University of the Arts London, which has a multi-year agreement to lease over half the beds.   

The student accommodation includes a mix of cluster and studio flats and a range of high-quality amenities, including a free-to-use gym, karaoke room, roof terrace and dedicated study spaces.  

The first six floors of the building will be occupied by the London Academy of Excellence sixth form, providing a purpose-built learning environment for its students. 

The scheme includes improvement works to the existing railway crossing near to the property and enhanced landscaping of the surrounding area.  

A ‘fabric first’ approach that maximises the performance of the building’s materials to improve energy efficiency has been used in the design of Hawthorne House, helping to exceed sustainability targets set by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).  

Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, comments: “We’re excited to have entered the final phase of development and are pleased with the excellent progress our main contractor, RG Group, and supply chain have been making. 

“We’re on track to deliver the project on time and ready to welcome students for the start of the 2026/27 academic year, following approval from the Building Safety Regulator. 

“Hawthorne House is a truly unique mixed-use scheme that maximises the potential of the site and will benefit both university and local sixth form students, as well as the surrounding community.”