Groundworks have commenced on the St James student accommodation project in east London, delivering 437 bedrooms including 35% affordable spaces. Backed by a £114m loan from Maslow Capital and designed by CJCT, the scheme integrates green public spaces and community-focused amenities, aiming for completion ahead of the 2026 academic year.
Aitch Group is advancing the delivery of the St James purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Walthamstow, east London, on behalf of their sister company and PBSA operator, YourTRIBE. Groundworks are well underway in collaboration with Foundation Developments for this significant project, which aims to provide 437 student bedrooms in a variety of unit types designed to support student wellbeing and diverse needs. Notably, 35% of the bed spaces are designated as affordable, illustrating a commitment to accessibility within the scheme.
The development promises an array of amenities to enrich the student living experience. These will include entrance breakout spaces, communal amenity areas, socialising zones such as a games room, creative working environments, and practical facilities like a laundry room. Aitch Group, leveraging its expertise, is executing the project reflecting the vision set by YourTRIBE, known for its contemporary, design-led student residences across London that emphasise vibrant communities and premium, sustainable living.
The site redevelopment spans 80, 85, and 86 Brunner Road, with a design led by Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher (CJCT). The team engaged extensively with local planning authorities from the London Borough of Waltham Forest and the Design Review Panel (DRP) to ensure the proposals align with broader community and environmental goals. Integral to the plan is the creation of a landscaped public square covering 477 square metres. This green space will feature a combination of hard and soft landscaping, including trees, flowerbeds, cycle racks, and footpaths, aimed at benefiting not just residents but also neighbours and visitors.
Financial backing plays a crucial role in the scheme’s progression. Earlier this year, YourTRIBE secured development loans totalling £114 million from Maslow Capital. This funding supports the delivery of two premium PBSA schemes: the St James development and Ravensbourne Wharf in Greenwich. Specifically, the Walthamstow project includes 224 student beds complemented by 5,300 square feet of commercial space, with practical completion expected in time for the 2026 academic year.
YourTRIBE’s vision for St James Street not only focuses on student accommodation but also on enhancing the local area by improving pedestrian and cycle routes and augmenting streetscapes. The aim is to integrate the student community smoothly within the neighbourhood, fostering connectivity and community engagement. This approach is mirrored in other local planning approvals for the site, which contemplate mixed-use developments featuring student housing around communal courtyards and additional commercial spaces.
The St James project sits within a broader strategic collaboration between Aitch Group and YourTRIBE. This partnership combines over 25 years of property development experience with YourTRIBE’s innovative student housing approach. Together, they plan to deliver more than 3,500 student beds across nine London sites, contributing significantly to the capital’s growing PBSA sector and setting new standards for immersive student lifestyles.
With its careful planning, substantial funding, community-oriented design, and significant scale, the St James scheme represents a key development in supporting the growing student population in Waltham Forest while contributing positively to the local urban environment.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://pbsanews.co.uk/2025/07/17/aitch-progresses-on-yourtribes-st-james-pbsa/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://stjamesstreetwalthamstow.co.uk/ – Tribe’s proposals for redeveloping St James Street in Walthamstow aim to deliver 188 new student homes, including a mix of room sizes. The plans also include improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes, as well as enhancements to local landscaping and streetscapes. The development seeks to support the growing university presence in Waltham Forest and integrate with the local community by providing new commercial spaces and green transport facilities.
- https://www.yourtribe.com/ – YourTRIBE offers contemporary, design-led student accommodation across London, focusing on creating vibrant communities with premium features and sustainable living. Their residences are strategically located in dynamic neighbourhoods, providing students with comfortable living spaces and access to a range of amenities, including gyms, study areas, and social events. YourTRIBE aims to redefine student living by offering more than just a place to stay, but a space to thrive.
- https://www.ukreiif.com/investment-news/aitch-group-yourtribe/ – Aitch Group has announced a strategic partnership with YourTRIBE, combining over 25 years of experience in property development with YourTRIBE’s innovative approach to student accommodation. This collaboration aims to redefine the student living experience by creating immersive lifestyles, with plans to deliver over 3,500 student beds across nine London sites, either with planning permission or awaiting approval. The partnership reflects a commitment to excellence and a shared vision for enhancing student living.
- https://benews.co.uk/yourtribe-secures-114m-from-maslow-capital-to-fund-delivery-of-two-pbsa-schemes/ – YourTRIBE has secured two development loans totalling £114 million from Maslow Capital to support the delivery of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) schemes in Walthamstow and Greenwich. The funding includes a £35 million facility for a 224-bed PBSA scheme with 5,300 sq ft of commercial space in Walthamstow, and a £79 million facility for a 414-bed PBSA scheme with 5,352 sq ft of commercial space in Greenwich. The Walthamstow project is set to reach practical completion in time for the 2026 academic year.
- https://cma-testing.ssofb.co.uk/projects/618-st-james-street – CMA Planning secured approval from the London Borough of Waltham Forest for the redevelopment of the St James Health Centre site in Walthamstow in November 2023. The project will deliver a PBSA-led mixed-use scheme with 224 student bedspaces and 628 sqm of new commercial space. The development is set out across two blocks, one arranged in a horseshoe to form a high-quality external courtyard space for the students, with the second infilling an existing gap in the St James Street frontage.
- https://walthamforestecho.co.uk/2023/11/14/council-approves-plans-to-build-student-halls-on-st-james-health-centre-site/ – Tribe Student Housing won council approval to build student halls between three to six storeys tall on the site of the St James Health Centre in Walthamstow. The plans include 224 student rooms built around a courtyard with an entrance on St James Street. Neighbours raised concerns about overshadowing and loss of privacy, but councillors approved the scheme following the advice of planning officers, who said the impact of the buildings would be ‘acceptable’.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated 17 July 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 11 March 2025, reporting on YourTRIBE securing £114 million from Maslow Capital for PBSA schemes, including the Walthamstow project. ([benews.co.uk](https://benews.co.uk/yourtribe-secures-114m-from-maslow-capital-to-fund-delivery-of-two-pbsa-schemes/?utm_source=openai)) The 17 July 2025 report provides updated details, such as the project’s progress and specific amenities, indicating freshness. However, the earlier report mentions a £35 million facility for the Walthamstow project, while the 17 July 2025 report specifies 224 student beds and 5,300 square feet of commercial space, suggesting potential discrepancies. The 17 July 2025 report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The 17 July 2025 report includes direct quotes from individuals such as Sky Mapson, Rachael Gordon, and James Rogers. The earliest known usage of these quotes is in the 11 March 2025 report, indicating potential reuse of content. The wording of the quotes appears identical, suggesting they have been reused without modification.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from pbsanews.co.uk, a source that is not widely recognised or verifiable. The 11 March 2025 report is from benews.co.uk, which also lacks widespread recognition. The 17 July 2025 report includes references to other sources, such as the YourTRIBE website and UKREiiF, which are more reputable. However, the reliance on lesser-known sources raises concerns about the overall reliability of the narrative.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative presents detailed information about the St James PBSA development, including specific amenities and design features. The 11 March 2025 report mentions a £35 million facility for the Walthamstow project, while the 17 July 2025 report specifies 224 student beds and 5,300 square feet of commercial space, suggesting potential discrepancies. The 17 July 2025 report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The reliance on lesser-known sources raises concerns about the overall reliability of the narrative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents updated information about the St James PBSA development but relies on lesser-known sources and includes reused quotes from earlier reports, raising concerns about its originality and reliability. The discrepancies in project details between the 11 March 2025 and 17 July 2025 reports further undermine the credibility of the narrative.
