GSA is planning to build accommodation for more than 3,000 students in Birmingham, Cambridge, Portsmouth and Plymouth by the end of 2019.
Christian Davis and Kenny Oke, both chartered surveyors, will lead GSA’s UK real estate team.
Kenny Oke has been appointed head of construction and will oversee the procurement and delivery of GSA’s UK development sites. Previously at Threesixty Developments, Mr Oke was involved in the acquisition and delivery of more than 4,000 student beds across the UK.
Christian Davis has been appointed as head of acquisitions and will be responsible for delivering GSA’s UK target of providing 20,000 student beds in the next five years. More than 8,000 are so far either secured or committed.
In September 2016, GSA acquired a portfolio of 3,634 operational beds from The Student Housing Company. It also acquired a construction pipeline of 3,213 beds across six cities, with a gross development value in excess of £300m.
GSA is headquartered in Dubai and is the owner-operator of student accommodation in Australia, China, Dubai, Germany, Ireland, Japan and the UK. The man behind it is Nicholas Porter, who is something of a pioneer in the purpose built student accommodation industry, having founded both Urbanest and the Unite Group.
Tim Mitchell, GSA’s chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The UK maintains its reputation for having some of the best academic institutions globally. There will continue to be high demand for well-maintained purpose-built student accommodation from both home and international students, managed in conjunction with our emerging global portfolio.
“With GSA’s drive to develop 20,000 beds in targeted UK cities, we’re confident we’ll help satisfy a significant proportion of that demand over the next three years, working with some great contractor partners.”
GSA sites now under development are:
- Bentley House, Birmingham, is being built by Pochin Construction and will provide 534 student beds from July 2017
- Catherine House, Portsmouth, is being built by McAleer & Rushe and will provide 1,000 student beds from August 2017
- Beckley Point, Plymouth, is being delivered by Kier and will provide 507 student beds from August 2017.
- 217 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, is on site with Watkins Jones and is planned for delivery in summer 2018, providing 219 student beds.
GSA sites currently in planning and procurement stages are:
- 130-138 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, is planned for delivery in summer 2019 and will provide 403 student beds
- 21 Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, is planned for delivery in summer 2019 and will provide 550 student beds.
On completion, all sites will be operated under GSA’s brands – either The Student Housing Company or Uninest.
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