Cheyne and Fusion acquire second Brent Cross Town site for £275m PBSA scheme

Fusion Group and Cheyne Capital have acquired a second site for a £275m purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Brent Cross Town in north-west London. The Fusion scheme, designed by PRP, will deliver 650 student beds and associated amenities. Related Argent will lead the preparation of the planning application, which is expected to be submitted in Q4 2024. The scheme will include study areas, a digital competitive gaming zone, a kitchen and zero-waste shop, private dining, a yoga studio, a herb garden and relaxation pods. Fusion and Cheyne’s first PBSA scheme in Brent Cross Town (pictured), was acquired in June 2022, and is expected to complete in Q2 2025. It will provide 662 beds, events space, a café, cinema room, e-sports arena and a karaoke room.  Brent Cross Town is a 180-acre, £8bn mixed-use town development being delivered by Related Argent and Barnet Council which will comprise 6,700 homes, workspace for 25,000 people, schools, a high street, leisure spaces and more than 50 acres of parks and playing fields. Julian Evans, land and planning director at Fusion Group, said: “Brent Cross Town is London’s most exciting new neighbourhood, and expanding our partnerships with Cheyne and Related Argent to bring more than 1,300 student rooms to it is a privilege. “As we continue our community engagement to ensure we can best contribute to the vibrancy of this neighbourhood, we’ll bring our decades of experience of developing residential assets in urban regenerations across the country to deliver another best-in-class student scheme as part of the town.” Oli Rifkind, executive director at Related Argent, said: “We are delighted to welcome Fusion and Cheyne back to Brent Cross Town. Their commitment to a second student housing scheme aligns with our programme of delivering complementary uses to the rest of the development, to help accelerate the growing population of our new Park Town. “Fusion’s track record in providing great student living environments in high quality and well-managed developments fits perfectly with our aim to create a town where all can flourish. This new development will support future generations to thrive and adds to the vibrant mix at Brent Cross Town – a place where co-living, student homes, later living, rental, for-sale and affordable homes are all on offer alongside workspace for 25,000 people, catering for all ages and stages of life.” Credit Related Argent/V1 © Glenn Howells Architects