Student accommodation - Nomination Agreement

The requirement for additional accommodation is driven by a shortfall in University accommodation following the disposal of University Hall. It is also driven by University recruitment intake targets and forecast accommodation demand. Current forecasts indicate a shortfall of approximately 1,100 rooms for 2026/27, increasing to approximately 1,140 rooms in 2027/28. These will be reviewed and refined throughout the University's recruitment cycle.

The requirement for 1,102 rooms is derived from accommodation demand modelling and represents the minimum level of additional accommodation required to maintain the University's accommodation offer and support accommodation guarantee commitments. Procuring a materially lower number of rooms would leave the University exposed to accommodation capacity shortfalls.

Without securing additional accommodation, the University will be unable to meet anticipated demand from first-year undergraduate students and may be unable to fulfil accommodation commitments made to prospective students.

Student accommodation is a critical component of student recruitment, conversion and retention. The availability of suitable accommodation can influence applicants' decisions to accept offers from Cardiff University. Failure to secure sufficient accommodation would create significant recruitment, operational and reputational risks at a time when the University is operating within a highly competitive student recruitment market.

The rooms are required for inclusion within the 2027 recruitment cycle. Accommodation options must be agreed sufficiently in advance to allow accommodation system configuration, pricing approval, marketing, allocation planning and publication to prospective students. Delays in securing accommodation would compromise these activities and reduce the University's ability to maximise occupancy.