Cost models

Cost model: Incorporating sustainability in purpose-built student accommodation

By Jim Gillen, Jody Wilkinson and Benjamin Stroud 2025-04-03T06:00:00

JSanter-6492

Source: James Santer / AHMM

Private investment is driving change, and meeting sustainability demands within strict time, cost and labour limitations is the challenge

JSanter-6492

Source: James Santer / AHMM

Palmerston Court, Battersea, London

01 / Introduction

British universities have needed to provide effective, affordable accommodation for their students for centuries. London鈥檚 Royal Holloway University, for example, still has dorm rooms in use that date back to the 1890s. 

Expectations of student housing have evolved over time. The levels of building safety, quality and amenities provided are now higher than they have ever been. Crucially, whatever the building age and design, sustainability and decarbonisation are now priorities.

This article will focus on a cost model for a student accommodation project designed to Passivhaus standards. Our hypothetical project is based on a new purpose-built managed student accommodation development (PBMSA) scheme of 16,300m2 GIA with 485 bedrooms in a regional UK location built to Passivhaus Classic standard.

Read more鈥�

This is PREMIUM content, available to subscribers only

You are not currently logged in. Subscribers may LOGIN here.

to access this story

Gated access promo


A subscription will provide access to the latest industry news, expert analysis & comment from industry leaders,  data and research - including our popular annual league tables. You will receive:

  • Print/digital issues delivered to your door/inbox
  • Unlimited access to building.co.uk including our archive
  • Print/digital supplements
  • Newsletters - unlimited access to the stories behind the headlines

now 

 

Get access to premium content