“Gamuda Land acquires London site for RM600m student housing near UCL, expanding its UK portfolio to over 1,200 PBSA beds.”
Kuala Lumpur, 24th Octorber 2025, 01.11pm – Gamuda Land, the property development arm of Gamuda Bhd, has acquired a site at 14 Marshgate Lane, Stratford, London, to develop a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project worth an estimated RM600 million in gross development value (GDV).
In a statement released Friday, the company said the 321-bed project marks its first fully owned, self-developed, and self-managed PBSA venture in the United Kingdom. The development is expected to be completed in time for the 2028/29 academic year.
Strategically located near University College London’s (UCL) East campus and the London College of Fashion, the site benefits from proximity to a combined student population of over 10,000. It is also within easy reach of Westfield Stratford, one of London’s largest retail hubs.
While the land acquisition cost was not disclosed, Gamuda Land said the Marshgate Lane project is part of its five-year plan to deliver up to 3,000 student beds across key UK cities.
Including the latest acquisition, Gamuda Land’s UK PBSA portfolio now comprises 1,232 beds across three projects, with two others under development:
- Press House in Woolwich, London – a joint venture with Q Investment Partners, offering 419 beds by 2027.
- City Wharf in Glasgow – a 492-bed project with Dandara Living, slated for completion in 2026.
“PBSA is a counter-cyclical asset class supported by steady student demand, which helps balance our residential and commercial portfolios,” said Gamuda Land CEO Chu Wai Lune.
He added that the UK’s large international student population and the shortage of student housing provide strong fundamentals for long-term income stability.
Overall, Gamuda Land’s UK development pipeline is valued at approximately £1.5 billion (RM8.4 billion), which includes the £1.2 billion redevelopment of 75 London Wall in collaboration with Castleforge, as well as the West Hampstead Central build-to-sell residential project.
