Manchester named and shamed for 'severe' lack of student accommodation - but things could be able to change

Manchester has been branded as one of the most undersupplied major university cities outside of London for student accommodation.

According to new research from global real estate advisor CBRE, just 4,745 beds have been delivered in Manchester since 2018 but the need for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) has grown by 8,100 full-time students in that time.

The firm added that despite the substantial student population, local planning policy has "enforced an effective moratorium" on development of student accommodation which has constrained new development.

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As a result, CBRE said Manchester now has one of the most pronounced supply and demand imbalances of student accommodation of any city in the UK, with an identified shortage of 23,186 beds.

In comparison the report, which analysed the latest available supply and demand data across the 30 largest university towns and cities, revealed that Greater London has a supply gap of 106,000 beds, a growth of 45% since 2017/18.

Tom Sinclair, head of residential investment, North, at CBRE, said: "The limited supply of new PBSA development in Manchester has captured the attention of investors, creating one of the most sought after real estate markets in the UK.

"Both developers and investors are actively monitoring new opportunity in the city as they look to secure new PBSA accommodation to meet the surging occupational demand."

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Oliver Buckland, head of PBSA transactions at CBRE, added: "The number and variety of universities within the city has resulted in strong demand fundamentals, with