Scape Eyes University Campus Accommodation Takeovers

Australia’s largest purpose-built student accommodation operator plans to expand into on-campus management. The move by Scape comes as the Federal Government this week confirmed the 2026 international student allocations for public universities, which emphasised that student growth must be supported by new, fit-for-purpose accommodation. The 2026 National Planning Level of 295,000 international student places is 25,000 more than in 2025. Universities can only increase their international student numbers if they demonstrate progress in building student accommodation. They must also show stronger engagement with South-East Asian countries to qualify for more places. Scape chief executive Anouk Darling told The Urban Developer the Government’s policy recognised that student accommodation was central to Australia’s global education competitiveness. “By linking international student growth to new, compliant housing, universities are being encouraged to partner with trusted private operators who can deliver at scale,” Darling said. “For Scape, this is an opportunity to deepen collaboration with universities and government to provide safe, purpose-built, and code-compliant living environments. “Over the next few years, we expect to see even closer partnerships that combine university oversight with professional management platforms like ours.” Building on the success of its University Accommodation Scholarship program launched this year, Scape is now looking for opportunities to buy, develop and manage accommodation on university campuses across Australia. The company wants to take over assets held under Build-Own-Operate-Transfer models. Under these arrangements, a private developer builds accommodation and runs it for a set period before handing ownership to the university. ▲ Chief executive Anouk Darling said Scape’s portfolio positioned it to support expansion. Many of these agreements were established decades ago and now face outdated design standards and limited ability to reinvest in improvements. The assets often lack modern technology systems and amenities that today’s students expect. Darling said Scape could “overcome those constraints through a flexible, technology-enabled management platform that integrates wellbeing, asset performance and reinvestment capacity”. “Our approach revitalises existing stock and delivers measurable improvements in safety, satisfaction and sustainability, giving universities a modern, compliant and student-focused solution for the next generation,” she said. Urbis’ Student Accommodation Benchmarks show more than 11,000 purpose-built student accommodation beds are currently being built. Another 15,000 beds have planning approval. The Living Company (which owns Scape) founder and joint chief executive Craig Carracher said the Government recognised that more international students require more purpose-built student housing. “Build-to-rent is not the answer for students,” Carracher said. “It does not adhere to The Code and cannot deliver the same wellbeing, safety or community outcomes required for compliant student living.” Speaking at The Urban Developer PBSA Summit in August this year, Carracher said build-to-rent developments should be mandated to include only 30 per cent students but they often house 50 to 60 per cent. He said this concentration is “bad for BtR, bad for operators, and bad for students”. ▲ The Living Company founder and joint chief executive Craig Carracher. The Code for Student Accommodation sets mandatory standards for all student accommodation providers, including requirements for safety programs, emergency management systems and ongoing reporting. Build-to-rent properties do not operate under these requirements. Student visa applications have dropped 26 per cent compared with last year. In July and August 2025, offshore student visa approvals for higher education fell 14.8 per cent compared with the same months in 2024. The Government has responded to capacity concerns by directing growth towards regional institutions, which received the biggest percentage increases in their 2026 student allocations. Charles Sturt University can enrol 60 per cent more students at 1600 places. Federation University rose 64 per cent to 1800 places. The University of Newcastle increased 28 per cent to 2050 places. Charles Darwin University rose 20 per cent to 2650 places. The University of Sydney has the largest allocation at 11,900 places but was the only public university to ask for more places and not receive them. Of the 32 universities that requested increases, 31 received approval for additional student numbers. The housing requirement may suit established operators with proven delivery capacity. Scape currently runs 19,000 beds across 39 buildings in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Seven more properties are being planned and developed. ▲ A rendering of the Freecity Group PBSA project approved for Forest Lodge. Freecity wins third Sydney approval Meanwhile, Freecity Group has won development approval for its third purpose-built student accommodation project in Sydney. The $90-million development will be built at 2 Arundel Street and 6–8 Parramatta Road, Forest Lodge, opposite the University of Sydney. The project comprises 118 modular student units—112 standard rooms and six DDA-compliant apartments designed to meet a range of accessibility and lifestyle needs. The four-storey project will use volumetric modular construction for faster delivery “while maintaining high standards of quality and sustainability”, the developer said. Early works are scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 2025, and completion is expected by the end of 2026, ready for students at the start of the 2027 academic year. The site is also near UTS and Notre Dame university and transport links along Parramatta Road. Designed by Cox Architecture, the project will feature open corridors overlooking a central courtyard, as well as shared amenities and outdoor spaces that the developer said reflected its ESG principles. “The design incorporates the facades of existing terrace houses to blend heritage character with contemporary architecture and foster a vibrant, inclusive student community,” Freecity said.

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