In Edinburgh, the construction of Burnet Point—a £59 million purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development—has reached a pivotal moment with its recent topping-out ceremony. This project, which merges PBSA with affordable housing, is on track for completion ahead of the 2025/26 academic year. Given that nearly 20% of Edinburgh’s population are students, the city faces a critical shortfall in student accommodation, with an estimated 17,000 additional beds needed to meet current demand.
Burnet Point is designed to alleviate this pressing need by providing 298 student bedrooms, accommodating a variety of living arrangements including cluster flats and studio apartments. In addition to this, the development will feature 66 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, alongside 17 affordable housing units managed by Hillcrest. This approach not only aims to support the student demographic but also addresses the city’s general housing crisis by freeing up privately rented homes for families.
Sustainability is a key focus of Burnet Point, as it employs low-carbon concrete and timber composite materials, making it Unite Students’ lowest carbon new build project to date. Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, expressed enthusiasm about reaching this milestone, underlining the project’s commitment to delivering high-quality, secure accommodations that enhance local communities. This sentiment is echoed by Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director at GRAHAM Building North, who emphasized the partnership’s expertise in sustainable and mixed-use developments.