Navigation Toggle Icon

Unite Students to build iconic property in east London

10 October 2024

  • Unite Students has acquired a key site in Stratford, east London, after receiving full planning approval to build a 952-bed property
  • The 41-storey tower will include roof terraces and state-of-the-art facilities including a gym, and open for the start of the 2028/29 academic year
  • Unite Students and University College London are in the process of confirming a long-term agreement for university students to let more than half of the beds
  • The development, near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, includes the construction of a new entrance to Stratford Underground Station
  • The project will deliver c.10,000 sq ft of commercial space, part of which is earmarked for social enterprise, You Press

Unite Students, the UK’s largest provider of student accommodation, is to build a landmark 952-bed property in east London that will be among the biggest in its portfolio.

Unite Students' Meridian Square development in east London

Unite Students’ Meridian Square development in east London

It has acquired the Stratford site, next to Meridian Steps near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, and received full planning permission for the landmark development.

The 41-storey tower will include roof terraces and extensive study and community space, including a gym. The planning application was supported by University College London.

The construction of a new entrance and exit to Stratford Underground Station is also part of the plans, providing a positive benefit to the local community by helping to alleviate passenger congestion and improve the area’s infrastructure.

The Stratford project, targeted to complete in 2028, will also deliver c.10,000 sq ft of commercial space which will include workspace and a retail area. Part of the space is earmarked for Royal Docks-based You Press, a social enterprise for young people and underrepresented communities.

Meridian Square

Meridian Square

A total of 333 beds will be let at affordable rents; 30 beds will be in self-contained studio flats while the rest are in shared flats of five to 10 bedrooms. One in 10 bedrooms will be wheelchair accessible.

Unite Students is in the process of confirming a long-term agreement with University College London for its students to let more than half of the beds. This will support the university’s recently completed UCL East campus in Stratford.

The new property will fully adhere to Unite Students’ sustainable construction framework, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon in construction and operation.

Including this project, Unite Students’ total planned investment into Stratford is c.£400m. This includes the delivery of 716 new beds and academic space for the London Academy of Excellence at its Hawthorne House property, which is replacing former office block Jubilee House on Farthingale Walk. The building will open in 2026.

Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said:

“We are proud to announce this major new development in Stratford, which will support the local community by improving infrastructure and offering community group space. We have a strong relationship with University College London and are delighted to build our presence in Stratford, where our total planned investment is £400milion.

“We’re trusted by parents, students and universities to provide high-quality, safe and affordable accommodation and this increase in bed numbers will help free up privately rented homes in the city for families.”

ENDS

About Unite Students

Unite Students is the UK’s largest owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) serving the country’s world-leading higher education sector. We provide homes to 68,000 students across 151 properties in 23 leading university towns and cities. We currently partner with over 60 universities across the UK.

Our people are driven by a common purpose: to provide a ‘Home for Success’ for the students who live with us. Unite Students’ accommodation is safe and secure, high quality, and affordable. Students live predominantly in en-suite study bedrooms with rents covering all bills, insurance, 24-hour security and high-speed Wi-Fi.

We are committed to raising standards in the student accommodation sector for our customers, investors, and employees. Our Sustainability Strategy includes a commitment to become net zero carbon across our operations and developments by 2030. It includes our Sustainable Construction Framework, which outlines our approach for reducing embodied carbon.

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.