In late 2023, Downing completed the acquisition of the former Bennett’s Field car park, located adjacent to the Amex Stadium in Brighton. The purchase followed a successful planning application earlier that year and forms part of Downing’s continued expansion across key university cities in the UK.
This Brighton student accommodation development will deliver 555 student rooms to meet the rising demand from institutions including the University of Sussex, University of Brighton, the British & Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM), Greater Brighton Metropolitan College and East Sussex College Lewes.
The scheme will comprise 130 self-contained studio apartments, 397 student cluster rooms, 18 accessible studios, and 10 accessible cluster rooms, designed to offer high-quality living spaces tailored to modern student needs.
The Brighton acquisition was part of a wider investment drive in Q4 2023, during which Downing secured four new UK sites: Brighton, Bristol, Newcastle and North Acton. Combined, these acquisitions totalled £50 million in value and marked a significant expansion of the company’s PBSA development pipeline.
Downing’s strategic entry into Brighton was driven by the city’s growing student population, its vibrant cultural and academic ecosystem and a clear undersupply of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). The Brighton student accommodation development reflects the company’s mission to deliver sustainable, well-located housing that enhances student experience.
As a leading real estate developer and operator, Downing continues to manage a nationwide portfolio across London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and now Brighton.
