Dominus Launches Auba, a 2,300-Room Student Housing Platform Across Central London
Real estate investor, developer, owner and operator Dominus on Nov. 12 launched Auba, a new student living platform covering more than 2,300 purpose-built student rooms across three schemes in central London. The portfolio totals 2,326 rooms, and the firm said the launch confirms it as the most active developer of purpose-built student accommodation in the City of London.
Three Central London Residences
The Auba portfolio comprises three developments, all located in the City of London:
- Auba London City at 65 Crutched Friars: 782 rooms, wholly owned by Dominus, opening for the 2027/28 academic year.
- Auba London Holborn at 65 Holborn Viaduct: 669 rooms, wholly owned by Dominus, opening for the 2027/28 academic year.
- Auba London Strand at 65 Fleet Street: 875 rooms, owned by Dominus in a joint venture with Cheyne Capital, opening in 2028/29.
In total, 1,451 rooms are wholly owned by Dominus and 875 are held through the joint venture. Auba London Strand is also backed by £250 million of development financing from Standard Chartered, agreed in May 2026.
The residences combine en-suite rooms and premium studios with shared amenity space, including co-working spaces, podcast studios, libraries, gyms and private dining rooms. All three are close to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), King's College London (KCL) and University College London (UCL), with access to Zone 1 transport stations.
Market Backdrop: London's Student Housing Shortfall
Dominus said Auba launches into one of the most supply-constrained student housing markets in the UK. Data published by the Greater London Authority in July 2026 to underpin the next London Plan identified around 257,000 students in London requiring dedicated accommodation, served by around 98,000 purpose-built beds, meeting 37% of need. At 2.6 students per bed, the ratio is the highest of any major UK city.
The Greater London Authority evidence also records 98,282 purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces in 2025/26, with planned provision totaling 31,550 bedspaces. The Auba portfolio represents approximately 2.4% of London's existing purpose-built student accommodation stock and roughly 0.9% of the accommodation requirement identified in the data.
Research commissioned by Dominus indicates location remains one of the most important factors in students' accommodation choices, with students prioritizing proximity to campus, study spaces and everyday amenities. The Unipol Student House Hunting Behaviour Survey 2025 found that 75% of students who commute for more than 30 minutes believe it negatively affects their time at university.
Hospitality-Led Operating Model
Auba draws on Dominus' hospitality experience. The firm owns and operates hotels in London, including The Derby London City, which opened earlier this year, and Lost Property St Paul's, both a short walk from an Auba residence.
The platform is built on three pillars: ambition, community and wellbeing. The name is inspired by the word for dawn. Dominus said the platform includes several firsts for purpose-built student accommodation, including a custom-designed, hotel-quality mattress and the Auba Key, a residents' programme that provides access to a team of hotel concierges for tailored experiences and discounted stays across Dominus' London portfolio of hotels and restaurants.
"Auba is built on the idea of a new beginning. Students come to London to succeed, and they want a home that helps them do it – close to their university, with the space to study and a community to belong to," said Sarah Reynolds, Operations Director, PBSA at Dominus, and Chair of ASRA. "We have designed every Auba residence to replicate the great experiences that guests have across our hotels."
Preet Ahluwalia, Chief Executive Officer of Dominus, said: "These three Auba locations in central London will help tackle the structural undersupply of student housing in the capital and provide homes for the next generation of ambitious students."
Affordability, Sustainability and Civic Components
Once all buildings are open in 2028, 35% of the rooms across the portfolio will be offered at affordable rents, capped in line with the Mayor of London's guidance. That equates to more than 800 affordable rooms in central London by 2028, according to Richard Smith, Senior Advisor to Dominus.
On sustainability, Auba London City and Auba London Strand are targeting BREEAM Outstanding, while Auba London Holborn is targeting BREEAM Excellent. At Auba London Strand, a retrofit-first design retains around 75% of the existing structure.
Each scheme also includes cultural or community space:
- 65 Crutched Friars will house the first permanent home for the Migration Museum.
- 65 Fleet Street includes the restoration of the Grade II-listed Tipperary pub and improved public access to the Whitefriars Crypt.
- 65 Holborn Viaduct will include 8,000 sq ft of affordable workspace and studios for artists and creatives.
Outlook
With 1,451 rooms scheduled for 2027/28 and the remaining 875 for 2028/29, the Auba brand is being established ahead of the first openings. The platform gives Dominus a dedicated operating identity for student accommodation.
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