DFT and Beaufort to host virtual roundtable on how student accommodation will evolve by 2030



Next week, Development Finance Today will host its next virtual roundtable, in partnership with Beaufort Capital.


The interactive event, which is part of a series launched this year, will be held on Wednesday 14th April at 11am.

The topic is 'How student accommodation will evolve by 2030'.

While the global pandemic has challenged many assumptions in student accommodation and across the wider real estate sector, the conversation will delve into the difficulties in future-proofing a student scheme and considering what and where the next generation of developments might be in 2030.

Mark Quigley, managing director at Beaufort Capital, will be joined by four PBSA experts: Joanne Winchester, executive director at CBRE; Martin Blakey, CEO at Unipol Student Homes; Martin Corbett, CEO at Homes for Students; and Richard Simpson, CEO at Watkin Jones plc.

The panel will discuss how the student accommodation sector can come back stronger from Covid-19, what this period of disruption has meant for those looking to invest in new schemes today, and how developers and operators should go about creating student environments fit for the future.

The experts will also consider whether the UK will remain one of the most coveted destinations for international students, despite the decline in globalisation.

Registration is open and it is free to attend for all professionals working in the sector. 

There will be a live audience Q&A at the end of the panellists’ presentations, and attendees are encouraged to get involved. 

The event will also be available to watch after 14th April on DFT.

Speaking ahead of the roundtable, Mark said: “I’ve been lending to the PBSA sector since 1999/2000, having financed approaching 100 schemes during that time. 

“The sector has proved extremely resilient, overcoming the introduction and increases in tuition fees, the global financial crisis, Brexit and now Covid-19.

With the increasing numbers of 18-year-olds, coupled with the UK remaining a student destination, I've every confidence we will continue to see strong growth from domestic and indeed overseas students for the remainder of the decade.”

Joanne added: “The outlook for UK PBSA remains positive and is supported by long-term demographic trends and rising participation rates — and there is still development headroom in most cities.

“CBRE’s Student Accommodation Index also shows that the sector has outperformed other mainstream areas over one, five and 10 years, and it has weathered the pandemic storm relatively well.  

“I’m looking forward to this roundtable discussion on the future of the sector and how, as it matures and due to housing market pressures, student players are branching into other bed sectors.”



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