Transactional activity in Scotland’s Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) topped £100 million in 2017 as applicant numbers increased for the fifth year in a row.

Figures produced for GVA’s Student Housing Review show that Aberdeen saw the country’s most activity with £51m transacted while £40m was transacted in Edinburgh, £10.75m in Glasgow and £2m in Stirling.

The rise in applicant numbers, a 2% year-on-year increase, includes a 4% growth in non-EU applicants, who now total 36,850 – the highest number recorded for this group. The report identifies the relative weakness of sterling as a significant factor in the strong appeal for foreign students.

The strength of the UK higher education system and rental growth outperforming inflation were key factors in the continuing robust performance of the sector nationally.

In 2017, Glasgow saw the second biggest increase in purpose built beds in the UK with a 16% rise and £10.75m transacted. Average rents in the city were £146 p/w, down 2.9% on the previous year. No new beds are currently under construction. Across the Central Belt, rents in Edinburgh were down 1.3% on the previous year at £147 p/w. £40m was transacted in the capital with 506 new beds currently under construction.

Aberdeen’s average rents were unchanged year-on-year at £141 p/w. There are 618 beds under construction. The city had the highest value of transactions of Scottish cities in 2017, with a total of £51m. Activity in Stirling accounted for £2m and the total value of transactions across the UK was £4 billion.

University owned accommodation is still the most prevalent across the UK, accounting for 51.6% of the total. This is down on last year’s proportion, reflecting the fact the private sector added more beds over the course of the year.

En-suites and studios are by far the most prevalent in new developments, with the private sector delivering a disproportionately high number of studios. There are now just under 219,000 private purpose-built beds, representing a 9.2% increase on last year, compared to 1.7% for university owned stock.

Surveys suggest that applicants are placing increasing emphasis on the student experience and accommodation quality when choosing a university and it is now also a consideration in some university league tables. The report notes a lot of existing stock is in need of regeneration and partnerships can help deliver excellent results for both parties and address many of the development challenges.

Keith Aitken, regional senior director for GVA in Scotland, said: “The weakness of Sterling and the enduring reputation of our higher education institutions continues to make studying in Scotland attractive to overseas students. The value provided by the current exchange rate also means the student housing market appeals to investors at home and abroad.”

The current climate for UK construction is challenging, particularly following the liquidation of Carillion. The full implications for the contactor’s vast supply chain of 25,000-30,000 firms is yet to be seen.

Keith Aitken added: “Optimism is still high. There is still a structural under supply in PBSA at a national level and given the level of investor appetite for the sector, we expect strong development activity to continue for the foreseeable future.

“There are also considerable opportunities for investors to work with universities to improve or rebuild their existing accommodation. However, there may be an over-supply risk on studio apartments in some areas and this is something that needs to be closely monitored when assessing locations.”