Acquisition

RNS Number : 2725Y

Unite Group PLC

16 May 2016

 



16 May 2016

THE UNITE GROUP PLC

("Unite Students", "Unite", the "Group", or the "Company")

UNITE ADDS TO DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE ACQUIRES NEW SITE IN PORTSMOUTH

The Unite Group plc, the UK's leading developer and manager of student accommodation, has exchanged contracts with Portsmouth City Council, on a subject to planning basis, to acquire a new development site in Portsmouth. It is envisaged that the Chaucer House site on Isambard Brunel Road will provide a home for around 480 students.

The development is expected to achieve returns in line with Unite's targets for regional development and is anticipated to be delivered by 2018. Total development costs, including the cost of the land, are expected to be around £30 million.

The acquisition further strengthens Unite's long standing relationship with the University of Portsmouth, currently ranked 59^th according to The Times Higher Education Rankings. In 2016, all 2,200 of Unite's beds in the city will be operated under nominations agreements demonstrating the strength of the partnership that extends back over 15 years.

Richard Simpson, Managing Director of Property for Unite Students, commented:

"The acquisition demonstrates our ability to continue to secure high quality sites in line with our target returns.

"Unite has a strong understanding of the market in Portsmouth and a very positive working relationship with the City Council which has been built over a number of years.  Students continue to be important contributors to the local economy and this new development will help to meet the high demand for student accommodation in the city."

Leader of Portsmouth City Council Cllr Donna Jones said: "Providing high quality managed student accommodation in the city is key to assisting Portsmouth's housing shortage. The more student accommodation we have in the city, the more private family homes will come into the rental market easing overcrowding in the city. Unite are a long term established student accommodation provider and I welcome the development in the city."

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Notes to Editors

A CGI of the proposed development of Chaucer House is attached to this release.  
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2725Y_1-2016-5-13.pdf

For further information, please contact:

Unite Students Felicity Cowie Sion Ffrancon	Tel: [phone]
Bell Pottinger Victoria Geoghegan Nick Lambert Elizabeth Snow	Tel: [phone]

About Unite Students

Unite Students revolutionised student housing in 1991, opening the first private and large-scale accommodation, created specifically for students. From pioneering to leading a thriving sector in the UK, Unite is now a FTSE250 company. We offer safe, high quality and bills-inclusive homes for more than 46,000 students in 138 halls, across 28 university cities, working with 60 Universities. As a first home-away-from-home, for most of our students, our buildings are more than bricks and mortar. They offer a solid foundation for their success. Our 1,250 employees are committed to listening to our students and growing our business to anticipate and nurture their needs. Our charity, The Unite Foundation, helps students beat a difficult start in life. So far, we have awarded free student accommodation and generous scholarships to 116 young people. Unite invests in and operates some specialist funds and joint ventures with institutional investment partners, the largest of which is the £2 billion Unite UK Student Accommodation Fund (USAF). www.unite-group.co.uk

 

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