— Proposals aim to deliver much-needed student accommodation and support local regeneration —
London – 20 February 2026 – Telford Living, one of the UK’s leading living sector specialists and the UK residential development arm of Trammell Crow Company (TCC), has submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for a new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Bethnal Green, east London.
The proposed scheme, on the site of the current LEB Building, would deliver 520 high-quality student beds on a 0.9-acre brownfield site on Cambridge Heath Road – a highly accessible location close to major transport links and higher education institutions. Designed by AHMM Architects, the proposals include a mix of cluster rooms and studios, alongside a mix of student-focused amenity spaces. The scheme also contains ground floor community and affordable retail spaces which have been developed with the benefit of extensive pre-application stakeholder engagement.
Located just 100 meters from Bethnal Green Underground station and within a short walk of both Queen Mary University of London campuses, the development is designed to help address the ongoing undersupply of PBSA in the borough, while relieving pressure on the wider private rented sector. The plans have been developed following extensive pre-application engagement with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the Greater London Authority and reflect Telford Living’s expertise in bringing forward the regeneration of underused sites through challenging market conditions. Alex
Taylor, Senior Vice President – Development Investment at TCC and Head of Telford Living, said:
“There is a well-evidenced need for dedicated student accommodation in this area of Tower Hamlets, which is particularly close to major universities and transport connections. Our plans for 520 high- quality PBSA units will directly address this demand while delivering a thoughtfully designed building that integrates positively with the surrounding area and brings wider regeneration benefits to the local community.”