The trophies were handed out at a ceremony in central London on Tuesday evening.
Build-to-rent (BTR) specialist Moda Living was the big winner at Property Week’s inaugural BTR360 Awards, taking home two trophies on the night.
More than 150 people attended the awards ceremony held at the conference venue 30 Euston Square in central London on Tuesday evening.
Moda won BTR Scheme of the Year for The Mercian, a 42-storey build-to-rent development in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The 481-home project includes a wide a range of rental apartments and state-of-the-facilities and amenities.
The developer also picked up the Social Impact Award for the lasting positive difference it is making in the communities where it operates. In Birmingham, the BTR specialist worked closely with the regional authority to create a skills hub that offered local people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview.
Other winners on the night were Grainger, which won BTR Operator of the Year, and HUB, which won BTR Developer of the Year.
Greystar picked up the prize of Excellence within BTR and HomeViews won the Technology Innovator in BTR Award.
Details about the winners can be found below:
BTR Developer of the Year
Winner: HUB
In the past 18 months, HUB has completed numerous funding deals, reached significant project milestones and launched new ventures. For instance, the company completed one of only two UK forward-funding deals in the sector in 2022 when it secured a £108m deal with Realstar for the funding of Latitude Blue, HUB’s second scheme in Leeds.
HUB also successfully secured planning consents for developments across the UK, including a co-living project with a gross development value (GDV) of £100m, and its first build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in Edinburgh, with a GDV of £85m.
Elsewhere, HUB has developed a comprehensive environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) framework. As part of that process, the company has completed a full review of its HR and appraisal processes in order to ensure fairness and equality.
The judges said the developer not only managed to execute an impressive number of transactions but also made a significant social impact, both inside and outside the organisation.
Runners-up:
- Dandara Living
- Get Living
- Greystar
- Moda Living
- Packaged Living
- Quintain
Sponsored by Utopi
BTR Operator of the Year
Winner: Grainger
In the past year, Grainger has launched a total of six new BTR developments across the country. According to the company, all the schemes saw strong demand. Its Gilders Yard scheme in Birmingham, for instance, was fully let within eight weeks.
This year, the operator is set to bring 1,640 new homes to the market in locations, including Cardiff, Nottingham, London, Guildford, Derby and Sheffield.
In addition to development and financial successes, Grainger also focused on ESG. It established a board-level Responsible Business Committee in 2022 and its net zero carbon programme achieved a 26% reduction in scope one and two CO2 emissions.
Grainger also worked to address the cost-of-living crisis, supporting residents in a range of ways, including providing practical hints and tips on how to save money and energy.
The judges described Grainger’s commitment to ESG as “admirable” and praised it for showing true compassion to residents and communities.
Runners-up:
- Dandara Living Management
- Get Living
- Greystar
- Moda Living
- Quintain
- Ringley
- VervLife
- Wise Living
Sponsored by Yardi
BTR Scheme of the Year
Winner: Moda Living
In July 2022, Moda Living opened The Mercian, the tallest residential tower in the Midlands. The development includes 481 homes and amenity spaces spread over 42 storeys. Units range from studio apartments and three-bedroom homes to a collection of 12 penthouses.
Amenities on site include a landscaped roof garden and a 200m open-air running track. The building also includes a triple-height atrium with seating for events, fitness studios, a cinema and games room, a lounge and library spaces, a private dining room and dedicated co-working space.
The development was delivered on schedule despite disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, the building was 50% let within a month of opening and reached 70% occupancy by the close of 2022. The Mercian has a 4.9/5-star rating on HomeViews, with 85% of residents describing the neighbourhood as “excellent”.
The judges said the development had “reset the bar for rental living in the regions”, adding that Moda Living had delivered a product that “stands above anything outside London”.
Runners-up:
- Get Living
- Grainger
- Greystar
- Greystar and Henderson Park
- HUB
- Packaged Living
- Precede Capital Partners
- Watkin Jones Group
Sponsored by Cortland Consult
Excellence within BTR
Winner: Greystar
Greystar Real Estate Partners is one of the biggest providers of BTR housing in the UK, with a portfolio of more than 10,000 homes. It is also continuing to expand. In July 2022, Greystar closed its inaugural discretionary fund, surpassing its original target, with £1.38bn in equity commitments from global institutional investors.
In terms of its existing portfolio, Greystar occupancy rate currently stands at 98%, something the company says is testament to its commitment to providing high-quality homes and excellent service.
In February, Greystar opened Bloom Nine Elms, situated near Battersea Power Station in London. The development comprises 894 apartments, including affordable discount market rent homes for key workers in Wandsworth, and residents are supported by a 24-hour community management team.
Last year, Greystar was selected by PSP Investments, QuadReal and URW to act as operator and manager for Coppermaker Square, a BTR development in Stratford, east London. Greystar services will include providing secure parcel delivery facilities, a 24/7 concierge and a calendar of resident events.
The judges said Greystar set a shining example for other developers and operators in the BTR field to follow.
Runners-up:
- Ascend Properties
- Cortland Consult
Sponsored by Harris Associates
Social Impact Award
Winner: Moda Living
Ensuring its developments deliver long-term social value is essential to Moda Living’s strategy. For instance, during the construction of The Mercian, the 481-home development in Birmingham, Moda Living and contractor Sisk worked with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to create a skills hub for apprentices and graduates.
Based on the site of The Mercian, the training hub offered local people free construction training and a guaranteed job interview after completing their course. During the construction of the development, the training hub far exceeded the targets it set for local skills and employment and the WMCA has since declared the hub an exemplar social value programme.
The judging panel was particularly impressed by this company’s exceptional social values. It continues to go above and beyond, having a lasting impact on communities, both regionally and locally.
Runners-up:
- Touchstone
- Get Living
- Greystar
- AXA IM Alts
Technology Innovator in BTR Award
Winner: HomeViews
HomeViews is a review site for residential developments, with a major focus on BTR properties. Reviews cover 90% of all BTR developments in the UK and it offers the most complete dataset available on the BTR resident experience, according to the company.
Currently, the HomeViews website receives more than 2.5m visits to the site a year and 15,000 BTR residents have now shared their experiences, ratings and insights on the site.
In addition, the HomeViews Pro data dashboard also makes data available to investors, suppliers, consultants, architects and agents working in the sector, enabling them to tailor new buildings to the requirements of residents in specific locations.
The annual HomeViews Build to Rent Report provides professionals in multiple disciplines with insights into the state of the sector. The most recent report was downloaded by more than 800 different companies.
The judges said HomeViews had changed the sector for good, making a positive difference to both the industry and end users. They felt it had delivered a highly effective piece of technology.
Runners-up:
- Grainger
- Lavanda Flexible Living PMS
- Quintain
- res:harmonic
- Spike Global
- Utopi
- Way of Life
- Yardi
Sponsored by Lockton
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