Unite Students targets investment in high-demand regional cities

• Unite Students’ strategic focus is on regional growth, with major developments planned in cities experiencing the greatest demand for student accommodation
• The company is leading investment of more than £650m in partnerships with Newcastle University and Manchester Metropolitan University to deliver 4,300 beds in two cities facing student housing shortages
• In developing thousands of new student homes, Unite Students is supporting the government’s national housebuilding targets

Unite Students, the UK’s largest student accommodation provider, will reaffirm its commitment to invest in new and existing student homes with a £1.5billion pipeline, when CEO Joe Lister speaks at the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham.

Lister (pictured) will outline a strategic focus on expansion in high demand regional cities, where Unite Students will work with university partners to improve the supply of student beds and ease pressure on local housing markets.

“Our investment strategy is about more than just building student accommodation,” said Lister. “It’s about creating long-term partnerships with universities, supporting local economies and helping to relieve pressure on the wider housing market by providing high-quality, affordable homes for students.

“We see opportunities for expansion in several key regional cities, where we can provide universities with capital development and operational expertise support. Our growth strategy is focused on aligning with leading, universities where we expect the strongest prospects for long-term, student demand.”

The summit will bring together investors and business leaders to discuss regional growth, infrastructure, and the future of UK investment. Lister will form part of a panel discussion on building thriving communities and explain how Unite Students is helping universities to meet their evolving accommodation needs, while supporting government housebuilding targets and regional economic growth.

Unite Students is leading investment of more than £650 million in two partnerships with Newcastle University and Manchester Metropolitan University to deliver over 4,300 new student beds. The construction of Castle Leazes in Newcastle and Cambridge Halls in Manchester is due to begin in early 2026. These new developments will help address student housing shortages in two of the UK’s largest university cities and free up homes for local families.

The two projects form part of the company’s £1.5 billion investment pipeline, which also includes a 934-bed development in Glasgow and 719-bed scheme in Stratford, east London that will combine student accommodation and a new sixth-form academy.

In addition to its development pipeline, Unite Students recently announced the acquisition of Empiric Student Property, approved by shareholders in October. Subject to CMA approval, the deal will create a combined portfolio of around 75,000 beds. The acquisition expands Unite’s reach into the growing market for returner and postgraduate students, helping to diversify its offer and extend the student lifecycle.

Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade said: “Regional investment matters because economic growth matters — for the jobs it creates, the public services it supports, and the future prosperity it secures for our nations, regions and communities.

“These investments are a powerful vote of confidence in the UK economy. From our modern Industrial Strategy to landmark trade deals, this government is focused on driving growth and attracting investment as we deliver on our Plan for Change.”

ENDS
Notes to Editors

For further information, please contact Unite Students press office on 0117 4506300 or email: press.office@unitestudents.com

About Unite Students
Unite Students is the UK’s largest owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
With more than 150 properties in 22 leading university towns and cities, Unite Students is home to around 68,000 students, living predominantly in en-suite study bedrooms with rents covering bills, insurance, and 24-hour security.
Driven by a common purpose: to provide a ‘Home for Success’ to live, work and invest, Unite Students is committed to raising standards in the student accommodation sector with the support of over 60 university partners.
Founded in 1991 in Bristol, the Unite Group is an award-winning Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit Unite Group’s corporate website www.unitegroup.com or the Unite Students’ site www.unitestudents.com.