Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)
Lewisham Council is consulting on new planning guidance to discourage further purpose-built student accommodation development due to oversupply concerns.
In November 2026, Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet decided to consult on new planning guidance that will generally discourage the development of further purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in the borough. This decision was made due to concerns over oversupply and the impact on conventional housing, clarifying how the council will apply existing planning policy.
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) refers to housing specifically designed for students, often with shared facilities. Councils consider PBSA developments in relation to local housing targets and potential overconcentration, ensuring they meet a real need without compromising housing targets.
Key facts
- Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet decided in November 2026 to consult on new planning guidance to generally discourage further purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development. Source
- The decision was made at a Mayor and Cabinet meeting on 4 November 2026. Source
- The guidance addresses concerns over oversupply and the impact on conventional housing. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 11 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.