Watkin Jones signs joint venture to progress Glasgow PBSA development

Watkin Jones signs joint venture to progress Glasgow PBSA development

Rental developer and manager Watkin Jones has unveiled a new joint venture (JV) with Maslow Capital to progress a 784-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development to be delivered in Glasgow.

The JV is Watkin Jones’ first transaction with Maslow Capital. The Ard, Glasgow will offer 784 beds across a mixture of ensuite cluster beds, studios, and non-ensuites.

The Ard is located between Glasgow city centre and the West End and is under 10 minutes by public transport to both the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde.

In line with Watkin Jones’ high sustainability standards, the development is targeting strong environmental credentials, targeting BREEAM Very Good, EPC B, and WiredScore Silver.

George Dyer, group investment director at Watkin Jones, said: “This exciting new partnership with Maslow Capital reflects the strength of our proposition to institutional capital, leveraging the depth and quality of our purpose-built student accommodation offering in the UK.

“The fundamentals underpinning UK student accommodation remain compelling, with robust demand and supportive demographics. We are excited to collaborate on this standout project, which will deliver a high-quality sustainable development in a prime university location.”

Rachael Gordon, head of deal execution (UK & Europe) at Maslow Capital, said: “Student accommodation continues to demonstrate resilient fundamentals, with strong demand across key UK cities outpacing available supply. Glasgow is a prime example of this imbalance, making it a highly attractive market for investment. We are pleased to support Watkin Jones with funding  that will deliver much-needed capacity in one of the country’s leading student centres.”

Sky Mapson, senior director, origination at Maslow Capital, added: “Maslow Capital has a longstanding record of partnering with top developers across the living sector to deliver placemaking schemes. In Watkin Jones, we see a sponsor with clear delivery discipline and operational know-how. Our role is to provide certainty of funding  so the team can focus on execution and timely delivery for Glasgow’s students.”

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