Places for People enters student housing sector

Places for People is moving into the student accommodation sector through a new partnership with Derwent Living. The Homes and Communities Agency has ratified an agreement which sees Derwent Living become a subsidiary of the Places for People Group, forming a partnership with responsibility for more than 182,000 homes across the private rental, affordable, leasehold and student housing sectors. The partnership will enable Derwent Living to bolster its supply of new homes, increase its financial strength to deliver new products, and enhance services available to customers through access to new expertise as part of Places for People. As well as gaining a foothold in the student living market, the partnership will offer Places for People a new operational base in the East Midlands. David Cowans, group chief executive at Places for People, said: “Student living represents the last major area of the housing market in which Places for People was not playing a significant role. Gaining a partner with such a strong reputation in this area has completed the jigsaw, allowing us to offer tailored accommodation to people at all stages of their lives. Peter McCormack, chief executive of Derwent Living, said: “For more than 50 years Derwent Living has been providing homes for people across the Midlands and beyond, with a clear focus on affordability, and delivering a range of housing tenures to meet local needs. “The opportunity to enhance and expand our services in partnership with such a pioneering housing provider was truly unmissable. We are genuinely excited about the future for Derwent Living, with the additional expertise and financial power on offer as a member of the Places for People Group.” • To send feedback, e-mail amber.rolt@estatesgazette.com or tweet @amberrolt or @estatesgazette