Legal & General has announced that it has agreed the funding of a prime Birmingham Build To Rent (BTR) development site known as Newhall Square for a total sum of €59.65m (£53m). Representing the sixth UK city to which it will bring its new rental offer, this latest investment brings its total pipeline of BTR units to over 1,700.
A forward funding deal has been agreed with award-winning residential developer Spitfire Bespoke Homes. The development has planning for 220 residential units and 7,500 ft² of ground floor commercial space, together with a public square and 61 car parking spaces.
L&G is investing around €1.13bn (£1bn) into the BTR sector, having raised pension fund capital for an open-ended BTR fund as well as a €675.2m (£600m) joint venture between Legal & General Capital and PGGM.
Dan Batterton, BTR Fund Manager at LGIM Real Assets, said: “This development, in a highly sort after area of Birmingham, links the industrial heritage of the Jewellery Quarter with the modern business district. The location is ideally suited to high-quality, affordable and professionally-managed rental accommodation that can help to address the supply-demand imbalance in the city. Spitfire was the natural partner to deliver this project as they are known for their design-led approach and have a track record of delivering outstanding quality homes across the UK. Given the huge infrastructure investment in Birmingham, it has been a target location for us in building a high-quality and well-diversified portfolio of BTR schemes. We expect to continue adding schemes and new locations over the coming months.”
David Jervis, Managing Director of Spitfire Bespoke Homes, commented: "As a specialist developer with a reputation for creating unique homes featuring great design and unrivalled attention to detail, we are excited to be working with L&G to bring our expertise and high standards to the BTR sector. We understand that renting is a now a tenure of choice for many urban dwellers, and recognise that they have high expectations. The traditional buy-to-let market is being overshadowed by the purpose-built rental sector, which is refreshingly focussed on service, high-quality accommodation and resident amenities. Drawing strength from our parent company, IM properties, a widely respected developer of commercial and industrial properties, this is a prime opportunity for Spitfire Bespoke Homes to make its mark on the BTR market and extend our offering to a section of the market which is befitting of our own approach to quality homes in great locations."
Mathieu Elshout, Senior Director Private Real Estate at PGGM, commented: “Our successful venture with L&G is materialising through a range of BTR-development programmes across the UK. This follows PGGM Private Real Estate’s ambition to build long-term partnerships with prominent local real estate players. In these partnerships, we focus on large hubs with long-term economic potential like Birmingham. Our investment addresses the UK’s housing shortage and will further add a quality stock to Birmingham with a high degree of sustainability.”
James Lidgate, Director of Housing at Legal & General Capital, said: “With a growing population that is living younger for longer, the strong gravitation of people back into areas of high population density where they can live, work and socialise productively is speeding up. The UK needs urban centres that are fit for purpose and can support vibrant, sustainable communities. To do this, we need to ensure that high-quality, well-connected housing options are carefully integrated into the public realm, maximising our existing infrastructure and supporting economic growth.”
