Borough PBSA targets should improve certainty, but they will not remove planning risk 

One of the more significant proposals within the Draft London Plan is the introduction of borough-level targets for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). At first glance, the implications appear straightforward. If every London borough is expected to contribute towards meeting London's growing demand for student housing, surely planning permission for PBSA should become easier.

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It is an understandable conclusion, but it oversimplifies how planning decisions are made.

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The proposed targets are undoubtedly welcome. They provide a clearer strategic framework for delivering student accommodation and should reduce debate around whether additional PBSA is needed in principle. For developers, landowners and investors, that offers greater policy certainty at a time when confidence in the planning system is increasingly valuable.

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Greater certainty, however, should not be mistaken for reduced planning risk.

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One of the common misconceptions surrounding PBSA is that applications are often refused because the need for additional student accommodation has not been established. In practice, that is rarely the decisive issue. More often, planning decisions turn on whether a particular site is considered suitable once local policy, design, townscape, accessibility and the surrounding context have been assessed.

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That is unlikely to change simply because boroughs are given delivery targets.

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Planning policy operates at both a strategic and local level. A borough-wide target may demonstrate that more student accommodation is required somewhere within the authority, but it does not automatically make every development site suitable for PBSA. Local planning authorities will still be expected to exercise planning judgement, balancing strategic need against the characteristics of individual sites and the wider objectives of the development plan.

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For developers considering acquisitions or reviewing existing opportunities, that distinction is important. Borough targets should strengthen the planning case for well-located PBSA schemes, but they are unlikely to transform sites that already face significant planning constraints. Careful site selection, an understanding of local policy and a robust planning strategy will remain just as important as demonstrating strategic need.

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The Draft London Plan is therefore best understood as improving certainty rather than lowering the planning bar. It provides a clearer policy direction and should create greater confidence for those bringing forward appropriate student accommodation. However, successful schemes will continue to depend on demonstrating why a particular proposal is the right development in the right location, rather than relying solely on a borough's overall housing target.

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As London continues to plan for future growth, that distinction is likely to become increasingly important. The borough targets represent a positive evolution in planning policy, but they do not remove the need for careful planning judgement. If anything, they reinforce the importance of bringing forward the right schemes in the right places.