£200m PBSA Partnership Launched by QIP and Solibuild
23rd Mar 2023
So another sizzling week passes by in the world of student accommodation with yet more money flowing into the halls market as new constructions spring up across the UK. Check out the latest news from the week and as always, feel free to click the links to read the full articles. Have a good weekend and don't forget the suncream!
1. My square metre is my castle, for some
Recent data released by Halifax has stoked the fire that is the UK housing market inferno as the study reveals the stark disparity in the performance of house prices countrywide since 2009
2. £330bn hole in higher education finances for 'generation unemployed'
Following the removal of the cap on student numbers MPs have warned that there is no clear funding strategy to cover the cost of the policy, which could see a £330bn hole in higher education finances within 30 years3.
3. Land Registry privatisation abandoned, for now
It has been confirmed this week that the proposed plan to sell-off the Land Registry has been abandoned following overwhelming opposition. The cancellation came just a day after Vince Cable's department faced a parliamentary report over their handling of the sell-off of Royal Mail
4. Students are suspended for supporting the Defend Education Birmingham campaign
The University of Birmingham has suspended two students for their involvement in a protest at the university last year. The university defended its 'robust action', saying the protest caused significant disruption, with some staff prevented from attending their place of work for a week. Disabled and fire access routes were blocked and nearly 900 students were affected
The University of London has set up a scheme where landlords can rent their properties directly to the University, who then sublet the property to their students. In doing so, student rents are guaranteed and tenancies are managed by the University.
6. Approval for £40 million student accommodation in Leeds
A £40 million plan for the construction of new student accommodation in Leeds has been approved by planning chiefs. The scheme led by the Watson Jones Group will comprise of three buildings with space for 320 students
7. Nicky Morgan to tighten academy regulation
In one of her first major announcements since taking office as Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan has pledged to tighten rules on who can run academies and free schools, following the trojan horse scandal in which urgent reviews found evidence for the instigation of a hard line extremist Islamic ethos in a number of schools in Birmingham
8. UK university offers "significantly" less likely for ethnic minorities
A London School of Economics and Political Science report has concluded that ethnic minority students are less likely than their white British peers to receive UK university offers
9. £17m conversion of former Durham County Hospital into student housing faces major public objection
Plans to convert the former Durham County Hospital into student housing have faced major public objection. The £17 million renovation project has received objections from over 200 residents on the County Durham council website, as well as from the city's MP, English Heritage and Durham University
10. Cambridge beats London to be named top location where houses sell fastest in Britain
Cambridge has been revealed as having the hottest property market in the UK, even beating London to become the place where houses sell faster than anywhere else in the country, a survey has shown.
