The degree to which student property delivers

Cambridge and East Anglia continue to defy easy definition: part global knowledge hub, part living laboratory for innovation and increasingly a showcase for how property development can adapt to social and economic change.

Despite a cautious investment climate and persistent cost pressures, demand for high-quality space - from student accommodation to life-science labs and flexible work hubs - has continued to outstrip supply.

From Barr Ellison Law’s vantage point, the past 12 months have underlined not just the resilience of the market, but the agility required to thrive within it. The firm’s Commercial Property Team has seen a steady flow of instructions across the region, advising on projects that bridge education, enterprise and community.

Graduating to Quality

If the past decade was about expansion, the past year has been about maturity. The student housing market, once driven by volume, is now focused on value, quality and sustainability. Developers are seeking to differentiate through design, energy performance and creating places with community and character, a trend reflected in the surge of purpose-built accommodation that feels more like modern co-living than traditional halls.

“The student market has reached a point where success depends on long-term vision,” observes Senior Associate Lucy Harrison. “Clients are thinking long term and beyond yield, towards sustainability credentials and social impact.”

Lucy is the firm’s key contact for a number of Cambridge University colleges. Among the last year’s transactions, Lucy led the team which completed a £45+ million deal for the acquisition and refurbishment of student housing for one of the colleges, a project that demanded sophisticated legal guidance and expert coordination with multiple stakeholders, reflecting the firm’s ability to manage complex, high-value transactions.

“Planning and land availability create natural boundaries,” states Lucy, “with the result that the market rewards strategic thinking: careful site assembly, early engagement with local authorities, and clear alignment between educational need and urban design.”

Barr Ellison has supported clients on projects that meet this higher standard, including integration of renewable technologies and communal learning spaces. The firm’s role has increasingly moved upstream, helping developers navigate the early feasibility and funding stages before transactions even begin.

Building on Broader Foundations

Beyond the lecture halls, the region’s property story is equally dynamic, powered by the twin forces of science and sustainability. From life-science labs in the northern corridor to mixed-use regeneration in the city centre, the pace of development seems charged with new energy.

For the Commercial Property Team, this means working for clients across offices, retail repurposing and light-industrial schemes, reflecting the growing appetite for flexibility in both use and tenure. The once-clear boundaries between commercial, residential and institutional projects have blurred; many developments now blend all three.

In the wake of the pandemic, the firm has also seen a shift in priorities. Agile working models have reshaped how businesses occupy space, while environmental, social and governance considerations now sit at the heart of most transactions. Developers and landlords alike are focusing on carbon performance, community contribution and lifecycle resilience; factors once considered peripheral have become fundamental.

“Commercial real estate is not just about square footage,” states Partner Kelly Peck. “It’s also about purpose: how a building fits within the local economy, the environment and the story of the area around it. This is why we have built a strong, and focused team with the necessary experience to deal with our core areas of strategic land and residential development alongside commercial landlord and tenant.”

The past year has seen Barr Ellison Law advise on several major deals and redevelopment projects, working closely with architects, planners and consultants to ensure commercial viability alongside regulatory compliance.

A Year of Team Growth and Evolution

The Commercial Property Team has expanded in strength and expertise over the past year. Led by Legal 500 Leading Partner Kelly Peck, renowned for her pragmatic and straightforward approach, the team has deepened its specialism across funding, leases and development work.

Fellow Legal 500 Leading Partner Jonathan Greenhalgh, a significant recent hire, brings extensive development expertise and has made an immediate impact, enhancing the team’s technical depth and strategic capability.

The senior team is supported by solicitors George Behiri and Tim Dawson, whose complementary strengths blend commercial insight with a solid grounding in property law. Kate Overton, paralegal, remains a trusted contact for many of the firm’s longstanding clients, while Latisha Ndungu provides vital organisational and regulatory support behind the scenes.

The team has a talent for identifying opportunities that others may overlook, bringing added value to clients and creating long-term relationships built on a genuine commitment to their success.

The Region’s Next Chapter

Looking ahead, the outlook for the region’s property sector remains strong, even as national headwinds persist. Infrastructure projects such as East-West Rail and ongoing investment in research and innovation corridors continue to fuel demand. At the same time, the emphasis on sustainable construction, biodiversity net gain and low-carbon design is reshaping how developments are conceived and delivered.

• This article was supplied by Barr Ellison Law.