The right balance: Meaningfully unlocking Nottingham’s housing stock through dedicated student accommodation
By Chris Ware, managing director at Conygar, the developer behind The Island Quarter
With world class universities, strong arts and culture offerings and a growing economy, demand for housing in Nottingham continues to rise. However, meeting this demand is not simply about delivering more homes but about delivering the right types of accommodation in the right places to support balanced and sustainable communities.
Understanding Nottingham’s housing pressures
Housing pressure in Nottingham comes from several directions. The average house price in the city is now around £194,000 (Office for National Statistics, September 2025) while private rents average close to £1,000 per month, which reflects a 7% annual inflation. These rising costs are being felt across the city, particularly by families and those seeking long term stability.
Nottingham also has one of the largest student populations in the country. There are more than 56,000 full time students, with more than 45,000 requiring accommodation within the city. Over the past decade, almost half of all new residential completions in Nottingham have been student accommodation rather than general housing. At the same time, Nottingham City Council is receiving hundreds of housing applications each month, with more than 11,000 households currently on the waiting list.
These figures highlight the complexity of Nottingham’s housing challenge. Demand is high, affordability is under strain and family sized homes are often being used in ways that were never intended for long term occupation.
Putting the purpose in PBSA
When students and young professionals rely heavily on traditional housing stock, it reduces availability for families and long term residents. As such, we see dedicated student accommodation as a key component to resolve Nottingham’s planning challenges.
When people move into accommodation that fits their needs and better suits their lifestyle, larger homes are released back into the housing system, enabling family housing to return to its purpose and create more stable neighbourhoods. It is an approach that Nottingham City Council recognises through its Student Living Strategy 2023-2028, which is aiming to deliver more than 9,000 beds in new purpose-built accommodation in appropriate locations across the city – the biggest outside the capital.
The Island Quarter is one of the most prominent contributors to this already, with Winfield Court providing 693 beds since it opened in September 2024, with plans approved for a further 394 beds on site.
Tailored student living
The Island Quarter is a clear example of how this approach can work in practice. As a 36-acre mixed use development in the heart of Nottingham, the masterplan for the site is to bring together homes, workplaces and leisure spaces within a single destination. This integrated model supports sustainable city centre living and reduces pressure on surrounding residential areas.
By creating well located accommodation close to employment, education and amenities, The Island Quarter helps reduce the need for family homes to be converted into short term lets. It also makes efficient use of a prominent brownfield site while contributing positively to Nottingham’s wider regeneration.
A more balanced housing market benefits everyone. Increased availability of appropriate accommodation helps improve access to family homes, supports affordability and reduces overcrowding. It also allows local authorities and housing providers to focus support on those who need it most.
Rooms for the future
Nottingham’s future depends on thoughtful and inclusive growth. By investing in developments that deliver the right accommodation in the right places, we can support long term community stability and create a more resilient housing market.
The Island Quarter represents our commitment to Nottingham and to development that works for the whole city, today and for generations to come.