Flexible planning needed to deliver 31,500 new London student beds
Londonโs ability to deliver 31,500 new purpose-built student bedrooms over the next decade will depend on boroughs applying the Draft London Planโs new targets flexibly, according to planning and development consultancy Lichfields.
The draft Plan introduces individual purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) targets for London boroughs for the first time, giving local authorities a clearer role in planning where new schemes should be delivered.
The approach gives PBSA a clearer place within Londonโs housing strategy, recognising its role in supporting the capitalโs universities and easing pressure on the private rented sector.
For the targets to translate into the delivery of new accommodation, boroughs will need to treat them as a basis for delivery rather than a fixed limit, with enough flexibility to respond to changes in student demand, universitiesโ growth strategies and development viability.
Jonathan Hoban, Associate Director in Lichfieldsโ London office, said: โThe introduction of borough-level targets gives local authorities a much clearer basis on which to plan for student accommodation.
โPBSA is an important part of Londonโs housing mix, supporting the capitalโs universities while reducing the number of students competing for homes in the wider private rented market.
โThe key is ensuring that the targets support delivery without becoming an artificial limit. Demand will change over the lifetime of the Plan, so boroughs will need to provide sufficient flexibility to consider suitable schemes where there is clear evidence of demand.โ
The Draft London Plan requires boroughs to meet local student accommodation needs and create opportunities for new development. PBSA would also continue to contribute towards general housing delivery, with every 2.5 student bedrooms counted as one home.
Local plans should, however, avoid relying on a limited number of sites allocated specifically for student housing. Allowing PBSA on a wider range of suitable residential sites would give councils and developers more scope to respond to changing demand.
Hoban added: โStudent accommodation requirements and development conditions can change more quickly than local plans. A broader approach to site allocation would allow proposals to be assessed against the evidence available at the time, rather than restricting delivery to a fixed list of locations.โ
The draft policy states that new schemes should generally be within around 30 minutesโ travel of a university campus and have good access to public transport, services and facilities. Boroughs could also introduce policies to manage concentrations of student housing where these affect mixed and inclusive communities.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
CoStar Group Promotes Robin Rossmann to Chief Financial Officer
CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSGP), a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets, today announced the appointment of Robin Rossmann as Chief Financial Officer, effective July 31, 2026, succeeding Christian Lown, who is stepping down to pursue an opportunity outside the Companyโs industry. Rossmann will report to Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group.
Rossmann will lead CoStar Groupโs global finance organization, overseeing the Companyโs financial and operational performance, capital allocation, financial planning and investor engagement as CoStar Group continues to expand its global platforms, increase profitability and create long-term value for shareholders.
Rossmann currently serves as CoStar Groupโs Managing Director, Europe, and is a member of the Companyโs executive leadership team. Over the past two years, he has distinguished himself by dramatically improving the margins of CoStar Groupโs European business โ eliminating approximately $51 million in costs, roughly 25% of the European cost structure โ while delivering double-digit revenue growth and launching CoStar in France.
Rossmann joined STR in 2016, leading its businesses across EMEA, Asia Pacific and Latin America, and became part of CoStar Group through the Companyโs acquisition of STR in 2019. Over the past decade with STR and CoStar Group, he has played a central role in launching CoStar Group products across global markets, executing and integrating acquisitions, scaling international operations and advancing strategic initiatives that have strengthened the Companyโs competitive position.
โRobin is a rare executive who combines deep financial expertise with proven operating leadership and a demonstrated ability to dramatically reduce costs while accelerating growth,โ said Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group. โDuring his time with CoStar Group, he has consistently delivered outstanding operating performance across our international businesses โ driving strong organic revenue growth, expanding margins, successfully integrating acquisitions and launching our products in new markets. Robin knows our business, strategy and culture exceptionally well, and is deeply respected across our leadership team. I look forward to partnering with him as we sharpen our focus on margin expansion and profitable growth.โ
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
YouTube is Fine & Countryโs largest and fastest-growing social media platform
Fine & Country has reached another major digital milestone, with its official YouTube channel surpassing 200,000 subscribers, doubling its audience in just 12 months after celebrating the 100,000-subscriber mark in July last year.
The achievement underlines the continued success of the brandโs video-first marketing strategy and reinforces YouTube as Fine & Countryโs largest and fastest-growing social media platform.
The channelโs impressive growth has been driven by the continued popularity of its Luxury Home Tour Series, which showcases exceptional properties from across the Fine & Country network to audiences around the world. Since reaching 100,000 subscribers, the channel has generated more than 9 million views, almost 300,000 hours of watch time and 74.3 million impressions, demonstrating the increasing demand for premium property content.
Sophie Davies, Head of Social Media and Content at Fine & Country, said: โReaching 200,000 subscribers in just a year is a fantastic achievement and reflects the strength of our video-first approach. By bringing extraordinary homes and the expertise of our network to audiences around the world, we continue to inspire buyers, sellers and property enthusiasts while strengthening the Fine & Country brand on a global scale.
โThis milestone is a testament to the creativity and dedication of our content team, presenters, videographers and, of course, our network of agents, whose incredible properties continue to capture the attention of viewers worldwide. The continued growth of our audience demonstrates that high-quality video has become an essential part of how people discover and engage with premium property.โ
The Luxury Home Tour Series has become a cornerstone of Fine & Countryโs digital marketing strategy, helping the brand connect with a global audience through immersive property storytelling. Alongside showcasing some of the worldโs finest homes, the channel continues to strengthen brand awareness, drive engagement and support agents across the network by placing their properties in front of an expanding international audience.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
