US developer secures approval for first UK PBSA scheme in Birmingham
Landmark's 504-bed student scheme marks US firm’s entry into UK delivery pipeline.
27 March 2026
Birmingham City Council has granted planning permission for a 504-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme at 120 Suffolk Street, marking the first approved UK development for US-based developer Landmark Properties.
The city centre scheme, located adjacent to The Mailbox and within walking distance of New Street Station, will deliver a new student residential building with associated communal and outdoor amenity space.
The approval represents a significant milestone for Landmark Properties, one of the largest student housing developers in the United States, as it expands into the UK market. The Birmingham scheme is the company’s second UK project and its first to secure planning consent.
The development is positioned within a cluster of major regeneration areas, including Arena Central, Paradise and the emerging Goods Yard scheme, placing it at the heart of Birmingham’s expanding city centre.
The project responds to a substantial shortfall in student accommodation across the city, with recent estimates identifying a deficit of more than 30,000 beds. The scheme is expected to be delivered by 2029.
Landmark Properties entered the UK market in 2024 and completed its first land acquisition in London in 2025. The Birmingham approval signals the start of its delivery pipeline, with the firm targeting the development of multiple PBSA and residential schemes annually.
The company currently manages more than 74,000 student beds globally and has a development pipeline valued at over $10 billion across the US and international markets.
The Birmingham scheme highlights continued international investment in the UK living sectors, particularly in student accommodation, where demand continues to outstrip supply in major university cities.
