The Building Safety Act may create a six-month delay for new student housing projects, impacting delivery schedules.
- Unite Students has raised concerns about potential delays in project completion due to the Building Safety Act.
- Capacity constraints at the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) are contributing to expected delays in student housing.
- The Act requires a ‘golden thread’ of digital records and funding for cladding remediation in residential buildings over 11 metres.
- Despite challenges, a positive outlook is projected for student accommodation demand in 2025/26.
The introduction of the Building Safety Act has led Unite Students, a major student housebuilder, to anticipate a six-month delay in their housing projects. This delay is largely attributed to capacity constraints at the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), following the Act’s enforcement from October 2023. The regulatory changes are necessitating adjustments in project schedules to ensure compliance with new safety standards.
The Building Safety Act introduces significant requirements such as the ‘golden thread’ rule, obligating developers to maintain a digitised record of buildings. Additionally, it mandates financial allocations for cladding remediation on residential buildings exceeding 11 metres in height. These stipulations are increasing the complexity of project management and delivery timelines.
Despite these potential setbacks, Unite Students is actively working on cladding remediation for thirteen current projects. The company has set plans to commence remediation on twelve additional properties by 2025. The anticipation of recovering three quarters of remediation expenses from contractors suggests a strategic approach to managing these financial pressures.
Furthermore, the current supply of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) remains constrained, with completion rates halved compared to pre-pandemic levels. Unite Students has expressed concern over these limitations, although demographic growth signals robust future demand for student housing. Looking forward, the firm maintains a positive outlook for the 2025/26 timeline, driven by increasing student numbers.
In navigating the complexities introduced by the Building Safety Act, industry stakeholders remain poised to adapt and meet the growing demand for student accommodation.
