More than 700 new student homes could be built in Stratford under a major redevelopment scheme unveiled for a site next to Stratford International Station.
Telford Living, the residential development arm of Trammell Crow Company, has exchanged contracts to buy the site from the Department for Transport and London St. Pancras Highspeed, and has submitted a planning application for a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) led mixed-use scheme on International Way.
The plans propose 749 student beds across two buildings, with half of the rooms earmarked as affordable student accommodation. The scheme also promises new public spaces, landscaping, improved pedestrian routes and a range of amenities for residents.
The site sits immediately north of Stratford International Station, opposite Westfield Stratford, and is currently used as parking and operational railway infrastructure. If planners approve the application, construction is expected to begin in 2028, with completion targeted for 2032.
Alex Taylor, senior vice president and head of Telford Living, said Stratford was “one of London’s great regeneration success stories” and that the scheme would “make a positive contribution to the area’s next chapter”.
He said the proposal would “activate one of the final development opportunities around Stratford International Station, delivering 749 high-quality student homes alongside new public spaces, investment and improvements to the local environment”.
News of the scheme comes as London councils continue to wrestle with acute pressure on housing of every tenure. Croydon Council has set out its strategy for tackling temporary accommodation pressures between 2026 and 2030, underlining the scale of the capital’s housing challenge.
The Stratford project is Telford Living’s first acquisition since its recent rebrand and shift in strategy, signalling the company’s intention to deliver schemes across all living sectors, including build-to-rent and co-living. Mr Taylor said the acquisition and the planning submission were “two significant milestones” for the company and “a clear demonstration of our strategy in action”.
He added: “Our move into PBSA reflects the strength of demand in the sector and our commitment to diversifying across all living tenures, supported by our strong balance sheet and track record of unlocking complex sites.”
Wendy Spinks, chief commercial officer at London St. Pancras Highspeed, welcomed the plans. “We are delighted to work with the team at Telford Living and the Department for Transport on these Stratford developments,” she said. “The developments are on an important piece of land close to active railways and will bring jobs and economic growth to the region.”
Telford Living said the scheme showed it could invest in new opportunities despite economic and planning headwinds, pointing to its track record of supporting regeneration and housing delivery across London and the wider UK.
If approved, the development would add to east London’s pipeline of large-scale housing projects. A deal for Charlton Riverside is set to unlock more than 3,000 new homes in Greenwich, as boroughs and developers look to build at scale across the capital.
