Grainger plc, the leading residential landlord in the UK boasting a portfolio of over 10,000 operational rental homes, has unveiled an ambitious collaboration. Today, they announced a partnership with ‘blocwork,’ a joint venture between Network Rail and the Bloc Group, aimed at ushering in a new era of purpose-built rental homes across key urban centres in Great Britain.
The crux of this partnership lies in the potential to erect more than 2,000 purpose-built rental homes across prime locations in major British cities. This endeavour follows the successful completion of The Barnum, a striking 348-home build-to-rent scheme in Nottingham, masterminded by blocwork as the developer and Grainger as the investor.
In this latest alliance, Network Rail will spearhead the identification of potential build-to-rent sites from its expansive property portfolio. Working alongside the blocwork joint venture as the developer, Network Rail will guide these projects through the planning phase. Grainger will play an active role in shaping the design proposals. Once planning approvals are secured, Grainger will provide the forward funding for the schemes and subsequently own and manage the finished developments.
The selection of brownfield sites for development mirrors previous successful station-led developments in major cities. These sites boast exceptional transport links, aligning seamlessly with the partners’ strategy to deliver housing that not only creates enduring value but also fosters sustainable urban regeneration.
Helen Gordon, CEO at Grainger, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing its potential to address the pressing need for high-quality rental homes: “This partnership supports Grainger’s ambitious growth plans and provides access to superbly located and well-connected sites.”
Robin Dobson, Group Property Director at Network Rail, echoed Gordon’s sentiments, highlighting the partnership’s commitment to swiftly delivering new homes for communities: “This partnership demonstrates our continued drive to work with strategic partners to unlock opportunities for well-designed, well-connected homes and the rejuvenation of towns and cities.”
Richard Thomas, Development Director of bloc, lauded the successful collaboration and expressed anticipation for the future: “We look forward to continued success by working together with our partners to deliver high-quality schemes and a significant number of new homes on brownfield sites across the UK.”
The alliance between these industry giants stands as a testament to the concerted effort to address the UK’s housing needs while breathing new life into urban landscapes. With a shared vision for quality, connectivity, and sustainability, this partnership aims to reshape the rental housing landscape in major British cities.