UK & Ireland

The Dot Group, the transformational force in global student living, is pleased to have reached a contractual agreement to acquire the CRM Students Ltd group of companies from CORESTATE Capital Holdings S.A. The Agreement will see Dot acquire CRM Students, and its subsidiaries, across the UK and Europe, consisting of over 26,000 beds in seven countries and more than 100 properties. 

Lacuna Developments & Watkin Jones have notified Belfast City Council of their plans to develop a large site behind Belfast Metropolitan College, close to the Titanic Belfast museum. The five acre site also straddles the recently constructed Olympic House office building.

Ogilvie Construction has started site operations to build a new student accommodation facility at Haymarket Yards in Edinburgh for Aurum UK. When complete, the new facility will provide 156 high quality studio apartments. It will also include extensive internal and external amenities including study spaces, a gym, cinema and private dining facility, as well as a roof terrace and shared gardens.

Plans have been revealed for a major student accommodation scheme next to a Nottingham city centre gateway hotel. The car park next to the hotel could be turned into a 163-bed student development on the corner of Mansfield Road and Magdala Road. The scheme will include some 83 cycle parking spaces.

Maslow Capital is supporting the development of two student accommodation schemes in the heart of Leeds and Lancaster with a finance package totaling £68m. The funding will enable the client — a joint venture between H.I.G Realty Partners and Primus Property Group — to deliver 790 student beds across the two projects.

International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has once again advised real estate fund manager Frogmore on a deal to buy 627-bed student accommodation campus, Singer Hall, from Coventry University.

In a strategic move to further bolster its leadership team and drive its global expansion, Yugo, the first global student housing brand and operator announces the arrival of Joe Persechino as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Christopher Holloway, a pivotal force behind Yugo’s growth, is promoted to Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO), to deliver on Yugo’s strategic growth plans, new market entry and integration.

Urban regeneration specialist Vita Group is bringing forward new plans for the former Barker & Stonehouse building along with the neighbouring Strawberry House building on Leazes Park Road in Newcastle.

Plans have been unveiled for a new student village in Stoke-on-Trent. Staffordshire University said it planned to replace existing student accommodation on its main Leek Road campus, turning it into accessible parkland.

Pollard, who will report to CEO Duncan Garrood, will have responsibility for maintaing and enhancing ESP’s service delivery for residents across its portfolio. Pollard joins ESP from Prime Student Living, where she worked as managing director for three years.