Market Monitor Digest (week 12/2025)

It's our pleasure to be your go-to for the week’s key industry news. Thanks to the information collected by the BONARD Market Monitor team, you can now keep your finger on the industry pulse.

March 21, 2025 BONARD Market Monitor team

Student Housing & Co-Living

UK, Leicester: Former footwear HQ to step up as 470-bed student hub 

By The Business Desk, March 19, 2025

The historic former Freeman, Hardy and Willis building on Rutland Street in Leicester is set to be transformed into 472 student bedrooms. Accommodation provider True Student is behind the project, reimagining the iconic structure into a student living hub.

Read more (thebusinessdesk.com)

Europe: Norges Bank acquires 40% of AXA's student residences for €240 million 

By El Economista, March 20, 2025

Another significant transaction in the student housing segmentNorges Bank IM has agreed to acquire a 40% stake in AXA Lifestyle Housing, the holding company of The Boost Society (formerly KLEY Group), for €240 million.

Read more (eleconomista.es)

UK, Manchester: IQ’s £130 million Manchester PBSA tops out 

By Place North West, March 18, 2025

Due to be fully complete by summer next year, the 1,224-bed Echo Street project is being delivered by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, which has now reached the build’s highest point.

Read More (placenorthwest.co.uk)

UK, Wolverhampton: Wolverhampton’s student boom: 20,000 could live in city centre under plans by university

By Express and Star, March 17, 2025

Wolverhampton could eventually have up to 20,000 students living in its centre, transforming its economy, according to the head of the city's university.

Read More (expressandstar.com)

Netherlands, Delft: Plan for 1,500 to 2,500 student residences on TU Delft campus

By Omroep Delft, March 14, 2025

The municipality of Delft and TU Delft have conducted an initial exploration into the possibilities for additional student housing on the TU Delft campus. The focus is on the area around the sports fields on the Kruithuisweg. The conclusion is clear: there is room for the construction of 1,500 to 2,500 student homes. Despite the great need for student housing, there are already objections to the proposed plan.

Read More (omroepdelft.nl)

BTR

UK: Planning application submitted for Mell Square regeneration

By Muse Places, March 20, 2025

The application includes plans for up to 1,600 homes as part of a new mixed-use neighbourhood which includes shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, and public spaces. If approved, the plans to regenerate Mell Square will improve the overall town centre offer and help diversify the local economy. New town centre living – including build-to-rent (BTR) and affordable homes – aims to attract young professionals and families, whilst restaurants, bars, and entertainment opportunities aim to encourage a new evening and nighttime economy.

Read More (museplaces.com)

UK: Pickstock to build Stratford resi tower

By Construction Enquirer, March 20, 2025

The Pickstock Group has secured a resolution to grant planning from the London Borough of Newham for a 355-unit residential tower on Stratford High Street in east London. The scheme will deliver 272 apartments alongside 83 affordable homes, and will have roof top amenities for residents with views to Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.

Read More (constructionenquirer.com)

US: Cushman & Wakefield Brokers Sale of 601-Unit Build-to-Rent (BTR) Portfolio in Minnesota, North Dakota

By Rebusiness Online, March 19, 2025

Cushman & Wakefield has brokered the sale of a portfolio of 601 recently developed build-to-rent (BTR) homes located throughout the Fargo/West Fargo/Moorhead metro areas in the bordering states of North Dakota and Minnesota. The sales price was undisclosed, but the price is the highest valued multifamily sale in North Dakota’s history, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Units range from three to five bedrooms, and the homes average 7.2 years old. Kevin Phelan, Pat Knowlton and Jeff Dimmen of Cushman & Wakefield, along with Jennifer Stein Real Estate Inc., represented the seller, Meridian Mortgage LLC. An affiliate of Christianson Cos. was the buyer.

Read More (rebusinessonline.com)

UK: Landsec submits plans for 880 homes at Mayfield Park

By Property Week, March 17, 2025

The homes will comprise one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, alongside shops, restaurants, a health club and community spaces.

Read More (propertyweek.com)

Senior Living

Germany: Aldi opens residential complex for seniors - and a teacher politician sits down at the checkout

By HAZ, March 15, 2025

Shopping downstairs, living upstairs: Aldi has opened the residential complex for seniors above its market on Iltener Straße in Lehrte. As a highlight, a Green Party councilor sat down at the cash register - for a charitable cause.

Read More (haz.de)

Ireland: Luxury senior housing complex coming to Dublin

By Pleasanton Weekly, March 19, 2025

The 140-unit luxury senior housing project is slated to be open for business starting in fall 2026 near the intersection of Arnold Road and Horizon Parkway, offering a range of unit sizes up to 1,499 feet and assisted living and memory care services on site on approximately 6 acres.

Read More (pleasantonweekly.com)

Malaysia: Malaysia targets RM180bil in 2025 property sales, eyes senior living

By NST, March 17, 2025

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is targeting to generate RM180 billion property sales across all sectors this year, said its minister Nga Kor Ming. He said the ministry is also working closely with the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) Malaysia to organise the inaugural Asean Real Estate Conference (AREC) 2025, scheduled for July 23-26 this year.

Read More (nst.com.my)

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