Watkin Jones, the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent, is pleased to announce that yesterday the Group topped out on Sherlock Yard, a 551-bed BTR scheme located in Birmingham.
Signaling that the concrete framework is now complete, this commemorative event was a proud moment for everyone involved, including the client, Get Living, in addition to subcontractors and representatives from Birmingham City Council.
Forward funded by Get Living, the six building 551-bed development will provide a sustainable neighbourhood on completion in 2025 and will feature beautifully designed one, two and three-bed apartments, 47 of which will be affordable. Located within 500m of the iconic Bull Ring shopping centre, in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, Sherlock Yard located on Sherlock Street (currently known as Maker’s Yard) is one of Watkin Jones’ largest BTR developments to date and will be ideally placed for residents to benefit from the city’s extensive retail, restaurants and bars, as well as public transport from Birmingham New Street Station.
The scheme, which will be operated by Get Living and is located on a 2.47-acre site, will incorporate a new pedestrianised public square that connects the city centre with the wider Rea Valley Urban Quarter. Additionally, the scheme’s circa 16,500 sq ft of ground floor commercial space will support local employment opportunities. Internal and external amenity space will include a gym, co-working space, social lounges, landscaped podium and a double-height sky lounge.
To provide best-in-class delivery and execution for residents through its technology-enabled experience, the scheme is targeting a Silver Wired Score rating, Level 3 HQM rating and ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating supporting a greener inner city living, attractive landscaping which will let residents enjoy outdoor communal amenity space.
Known as the UK’s second city, Birmingham has been at the forefront of innovation since the Industrial Revolution. Today, the city is known for its multiculturalism and excellence in research and development in a variety of sectors including technology, life sciences and the environment making it an exciting city to both work and live.
George Dyer, Group Investment Director, Watkin Jones, said: “This is our second scheme to top out with our partner, Get Living this year as we collaborate on creating BTR schemes that offer high quality, sustainable places to live. Once complete, Sherlock Yard will provide well designed homes with great amenity spaces, in a key regeneration area of Birmingham. We remain focused on progressing our development pipeline and helping to deliver much needed homes across the UK.
Rick De Blaby, Chief Executive Officer, Get Living, said: “Sherlock Yard will mark Get Living’s first neighbourhood in Birmingham as we continue to grow across the UK, and the second delivered in partnership with Watkin Jones. When it launches in 2025, the new scheme will bring over 500 new homes for the people of Birmingham in addition to commercial space and public realm for the whole community to enjoy, a short distance from New Street Station.
“Developments such as this, which are high-quality, sustainable and fit for the future, are an important part of the solution to the nation’s housing crisis, regenerating brownfield land and supporting local economies and communities.”
- Ends -
Media enquiries:
Buchanan (Watkin Jones)
Henry Harrison-Topham / Abby Gilchrist
watkinjones@buchanan.uk.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
Notes to Editors
Watkin Jones is the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent, with a focus on the build to rent, student accommodation and affordable housing sectors. The Group has strong relationships with institutional investors, and a reputation for successful, on-time-delivery of high-quality developments. Since 1999, Watkin Jones has delivered 48,000 student beds across 143 sites, making it a key player and leader in the UK purpose-built student accommodation market, and is increasingly expanding its operations into the build to rent sector. In addition, Fresh, the Group's specialist accommodation management business, manages over 22,000 student beds and build to rent apartments on behalf of its institutional clients. Watkin Jones has also been responsible for over 80 residential developments, ranging from starter homes to executive housing and apartments.
The Group's competitive advantage lies in its experienced management team and capital-light business model, which enables it to offer an end-to-end solution for investors, delivered entirely in-house with minimal reliance on third parties, across the entire life cycle of an asset.
Watkin Jones was admitted to trading on AIM in March 2016 with the ticker WJG.L. For additional information please visit www.watkinjonesplc.com
About Get Living
Get Living is the UK’s leading build to rent investor, developer and operator. We provide quality rental homes in neighbourhoods that nurture togetherness, belonging and opportunity in a way that generates financial, environmental and social value for residents and shareholders alike.
Since the business was founded in 2013, Get Living’s portfolio has grown to 4,000 homes for rent across three neighbourhoods: East Village and Elephant Central in London and New Maker Yards at Middlewood Locks, Manchester. Further neighbourhoods are planned or under construction across the UK including Lewisham, Maidenhead, Birmingham, Leatherhead, Leeds and Glasgow, delivering a further 6,500 homes.