The British Property Federation has set up a student accommodation committee to act as a voice for the burgeoning sector.

It is the first new BPF committee in more than a decade.

Richard Simpson, managing director of student housing provider UNITE, who will chair the committee, said: "With unprecedented investment in the sector, and greater responsibility being placed on it, now seemed the right time to establish this committee."

A record £2.7bn was invested in student accommodation last year - a 125% increase on 2011.

According to CBRE, the sector outperformed all other property classes in 2012 with a 9.6% return, compared with 4.4% from offices and 2.2% from retail.

BPF chief executive Liz Peace said: "The successful expansion of purpose-built student accommodation over the past 20 years illustrates the property sector at its best in marrying up capital and an accommodation need to deliver comfortable, well-managed buildings."

The other committee members are Charles Marshall, Liberty Living; Keith White, CRM; John Nesbitt, Victoria Halls; David Tymms, IQ; Bob Crompton, Knightsbridge; James Whidborne, Cordea Savills; and Nick Collins, Nabarro