Policy information sourced from City of London Local Plan

DM 21.7 Student Housing and Hostels

  1. Proposals for new student accommodation and hostels will be refused where it would:
    • prejudice the primary business function of the City;
    • result in the loss of office buildings or sites, contrary to policy DM 1.1;
    • result in an excessive concentration of student housing and/or hostels;
    • have an adverse impact on the residential amenity of the area;
    • involve the loss of permanent residential accommodation.
  2. Proposals for student housing must be supported by identified further or higher educational institutions operating in the Central Activities Zone and provide accommodation for their own students.
  3. Self-contained student housing will be expected to contribute to the supply of affordable housing in accordance with Policy CS21.
  4. The loss of existing student housing and hostels will be resisted unless:
    • the accommodation is being relocated within a reasonable distance and it meets identified need in London;
    • the accommodation is required to meet residential needs as part of a published strategy by a local service provider;
    • it is vacant and has been actively marketed as student or hostel accommodation at reasonable terms and there is no demand from another organisation for a hostel in that location.

For more information please see the Local Plan