Core and cluster accommodation

Cluster accommodation refers to shared living arrangements where individuals have their own private bedrooms or single-person units but share communal facilities like kitchens and bathrooms.

Although commonly associated with student housing, cluster accommodation can also serve other groups, such as nurses and essential workers.

Additionally, cluster accommodation may cater to vulnerable populations or those with specific needs, such as people with disabilities, individuals seeking refuge in women’s shelters, individuals struggling with substance abuse, and young offenders. In these cases, cluster accommodation may offer transitional or “move-on” housing, often supplemented with support services to aid residents in transitioning to independent living.

Some cluster accommodation setups may include core accommodation, where a central hostel provides high-dependency housing surrounded by lower-dependency cluster accommodation. This arrangement enables residents to progress from supported to semi-supported to fully independent living. Typically, such accommodation is administered by the NHS, social services, or charitable organisations.