Downing has submitted plans for a new 699-unit purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme and a 91 Apartment Build to Rent (BtR) development in North Acton.

Located on Victoria Road adjacent to North Acton Tube station, the proposed development will replace the existing Holiday Inn Express which currently occupies the site.

The 2,235 sq m proposed development could see two new towers rising to 17 and 35-storeys which include 699 student rooms – a mixture of one bedroom studios-, two-, three- four-, five-, and six- bedroom apartments – as well as 91 build-to-rent (BtR) units, with one-, two-, three- bedroom apartments including 35% affordable homes. Amenities at the proposed North Acton PBSA development include a ground floor commercial units, gym, social spaces and generous cycle storage. External amenities include landscaped and hardscaped areas to the north and south along with the podium courtyard area and external roof terraces.


Both of the two towers have been designed to a BREEAM Excellent standard and sustainable features are included throughout the development. Proposed plans also aim to achieve Secured by Design and Home Quality Mark certification.

The taller of the two towers is a 35-storey student residential building which will have a rainscreen façade system comprising a mixture of solid anodised aluminium, perforated anodised aluminium and clear glazed panels.

Located to the west of the site, the smaller of the two towers will house the 91 BtR units. Plans outline that it will be composed of a terracotta rainscreen system interspersed with clear glazed and perforated anodised aluminium panels. The two proposed towers will be linked by a unified four-storey podium.