Unite Students completes flagship London property ahead of September opening

• Unite Students has completed its 719-bed Hawthorne House property in Stratford, London
• The property is fully let for the start of the 2026/27 academic year, supported by a multi-year agreement with the University of the Arts London
• The new development will also provide a new, state of the art sixth form for the London Academy of Excellence

Unite Students has completed the construction of its flagship Hawthorne House property in Stratford, London ahead of the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

Over half of the 719 rooms are being let directly to students from the University of the Arts London (UAL) under a multi-year agreement. UAL is ranked second globally for art and design, supporting Unite’s strategy to accelerate alignment to the UK’s strongest universities.

The £185 million development is a unique mixed-use scheme with 65,000 sq ft dedicated to the London Academy of Excellence over the building’s first six floors. The Academy is among the top 5% of schools nationally for A-Level results and the new state-of-the-art learning environment will help widen access by increasing the number of available places from 480 to 750.

Hawthorne House is Unite’s first development to be governed by the recent Building Safety Act and has benefitted from an efficient and collaborative approval process with the Building Safety Regulator.

Hawthorne House is located next to Stratford station and a range of university campuses, including UAL’s London College of Fashion.

The purpose-built student accommodation offers a mix of modern 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 scheme includes improvement works to an existing railway bridge near to the property and enhanced landscaping of the surrounding area.

The building has been designed to maximise the performance of its materials and improve energy efficiency, helping to exceed RIBA climate targets.

Joe Lister, CEO at Unite Students, comments: “Hawthorne House is a unique and exciting new development, and we can’t wait to welcome our university students and the London Academy of Excellence.

“The partnership with the University of Arts London, a world leading university for arts and design, supports our strategy to align with the UK’s strongest universities.

“The scheme also helps to regenerate an important London gateway site, supports more local, young people into sixth-form education and frees up privately rented homes for families and young professionals.”