GSA embarks on £300m student housing drive

Student accommodation specialist GSA has made two senior appointments to drive forward its £300m construction programme across the UK. The scheme is expected to deliver more than 3,000 beds for students in Birmingham, Cambridge, Portsmouth and Plymouth by the end of 2019. Christian Davis and Kenny Oke will lead the UK real estate team. Davis has been appointed as head of acquisitions and will be responsible for delivering GSA’s UK target of providing 20,000 student beds within the next five years. Over 8,000 are currently either secured or committed. Davis has more than 10 years’ experience in real estate, firstly specialising in real estate financial modelling for large corporates, and then in student accommodation. A chartered surveyor, he has led the sourcing, acquisition and delivery of planning permission on development sites throughout the UK. Oke, also a chartered surveyor, has been appointed as head of construction and will oversee the procurement and delivery of UK development sites. Previously at Threesixty Developments, Oke was involved in the acquisition and delivery of over 4,000 student beds across the UK. In September, GSA acquired a portfolio of 3,634 operational beds from The Student Housing Company. It also acquired a construction pipeline of 3,213 beds across six cities, with a gross development value in excess of £300m. Tim Mitchell, EMEA chief executive, said: “The UK maintains its reputation for having some of the best academic institutions globally. There will continue to be high demand for well-maintained purpose-built student accommodation from both home and international students, managed in conjunction with our emerging global portfolio. “With GSA’s drive to develop 20,000 beds in targeted UK cities, we’re confident we’ll help satisfy a significant proportion of that demand over the next three years, working with some great contractor partners.” GSA sites now under development Bentley House, Birmingham, is being delivered by Pochin construction, and will provide 534 student beds from July 2017 Catherine House, Portsmouth, is being delivered by McAleer & Rushe, and will provide 1,000 student beds from August 2017 Beckley Point, Plymouth, is being delivered by Kier, and will provide 507 student beds from August 2017 217 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, is on site with Watkins Jones and is planned for delivery in summer 2018, providing 219 student beds. GSA sites currently in planning and procurement stages 130-138 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, is planned for delivery in summer 2019 and will provide 403 student beds 21 Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, is planned for delivery in summer 2019 and will provide 550 student beds. Upon completion, all sites will operate under GSA’s brands, The Student Housing Company or Uninest. • To send feedback, e-mail shekha.vyas@estatesgazette.com or tweet @ShekhaV or @estatesgazette