Colliers has announced that its living team will work across all asset classes from cradle to grave, including purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), Build to Rent and new residential developments, offering advice across funding, asset acquisition and disposals, and development and land acquisitions. Alongside this, the team works closely with Colliers colleagues on debt, capital raising, and finance solutions.
Jon Bull-Diamond will lead the team, having joined Colliers from Homes England in January 2023. Alanna Peach is promoted to Head of Living Capital Markets, leading the team that provides market-leading advice across all sectors with a particularly strong track record in PBSA, Build to Rent and co-living assets.
“The living sector is one that never stands still, be it the work that government is doing to unlock viability, building safety and funding; changes to the planning system; or demographic shifts that impact trends in student and housing demand. Our new look team at Colliers is designed to provide clients with a full-sector service, working across all asset classes in the residential and living sectors and with the ability to provide the best funding and finance advice in the industry.”
Jon Bull-Diamond, Colliers
The team’s recent track record includes the unconditional sale on behalf of Derwent of Blue Star House in Brixton, an office with potential for co-living conversion for around £25m, the acquisition for Cain International of Project Nexus and St James House – comprising the forward funding of three assets with a GDV of £350m, securing £45m of funding from Homes England, which was pivotal in unlocking Glenbrook’s £200m Kirkstall Road development in Leeds.
“As interest rates continue to fall, we are seeing more confidence from investors wanting to grow in, or enter, the resilient UK residential and living market, making it likely to be the biggest growth market within real estate. We are seeing increased demand not only for the more traditional safehouses of PBSA and Build to Rent but for the less mature yet demographically driven sectors such as single family and co-living.
“As more of our clients get comfortable with direct-let and operational exposure within their portfolios, we are seeing a number expanding to own and operate multiple living sector assets. The USP of our team is harnessing our living sector expertise within one team, enabling us to offer bespoke advice within a one-stop-shop, whilst also providing cross sector operational and cost knowledge.”
Alanna Peach, Head of Living Capital Markets, Colliers
Andrew White, as Head of UK Residential, will continue to focus on the residential advisory and land development sectors.
“Our value lies in our ability to operate as a niche advisory team, across the various housing tenures, whilst leveraging our wider connections across our UK business. And as a truly global company, we also have the benefit of our worldwide reach and insights which our clients can really maximise when making decisions on how to invest in this ever-changing sector.”
Andrew White, Head of UK Residential, Colliers
