Flexible planning key to meeting London’s new PBSA targets

A new target of more than 30,000 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) beds over the next decade will require flexible planning, according to Lichfields.

The planning and development consultancy has warned that a flexible planning approach will be needed to deliver 31,500 student beds across the capital, helping to ease pressure on the private rented sector.

The draft London plan assigns specific PBSA delivery targets to individual London boroughs for the first time.

Targets support delivery

Jonathan Hoban, associate Director in Lichfields’ London office, said: “The introduction of borough-level targets gives local authorities a much clearer basis on which to plan for student accommodation.

“PBSA is an important part of London’s housing mix, supporting the capital’s universities while reducing the number of students competing for homes in the wider private rented market.

“The key is ensuring that the targets support delivery without becoming an artificial limit. Demand will change over the lifetime of the plan, so boroughs will need to provide sufficient flexibility to consider suitable schemes where there is clear evidence of demand.

Student accommodation requirements can change quickly

Under the plan, PBSA will continue to contribute towards general housing delivery, with every 2.5 student bedrooms counting as one home.

The draft policy says new schemes should be within around 30 minutes’ travel of a university campus and have good access to public transport, services and local amenities.

The plan also places greater emphasis on affordable housing. Developers could provide affordable student rooms or combine a reduced proportion of affordable student accommodation with a financial contribution towards conventional affordable housing.

Mr Hoban says the proof will be in the detail of its implementation: “Student accommodation requirements and development conditions can change more quickly than local plans. A broader approach to site allocation would allow proposals to be assessed against the evidence available at the time, rather than restricting delivery to a fixed list of locations.

“The wider choice of affordable housing options is a constructive step. Different sites and operators face different circumstances, and greater flexibility should make it easier to agree an approach that supports delivery and helps meet London’s affordable housing objectives.

“The Draft Plan gives PBSA clearer strategic status. The detail will now be important in helping boroughs turn those targets into new accommodation.”