Inland Homes secures two ‘Build to Rent’ sales worth £52.8m as Kooky adds to its portfolio in High Wycombe

Inland Homes has announced two sales valued at £52.8 million to two Build to Rent (BTR) Funds at its Centre Square and Buckingham House developments in High Wycombe, demonstrating the attractiveness of the brownfield regeneration specialists’ assets within this growing market.

Kooky, a new boutique BTR brand, has acquired Inland Homes’ Buckingham House development in High Wycombe, consisting of 85 units purchased at £21.3 million, adding to its growing portfolio of branded BTR properties in key locations surrounding London.  The second development sold by
Inland Homes was 123 units for £31.5 million at its Centre Square development in High Wycombe.

Inland prides itself on the flexibility in its business model to seize new market opportunities and its move into the rapidly growing BTR market evidences this. The company committed to making a move into this space in 2019 and subsequently stated it was a priority for 2020. Unlike others, Inland Homes offers both the land and build capability, making the company an attractive proposition to prospective investors.

"We have a substantial number of sites which are suitable for rental housing and as we reported in last year's accounts, securing 'Build to Rent' opportunities has been a priority for the Group this year,” said Stephen Wicks, Chief Executive at Inland Homes.

"We are delighted therefore to announce these latest land sales at Centre Square and Buckingham House to two highly-respected operators in this market. As these deals evidence, and following the completion of land sales at Wilton Park and Cheshunt Lakeside, there is sustained demand from investors, housing associations and other developers for our high-quality land assets and our build expertise.

"This is particularly pleasing and a testament to the Group when considered against the ongoing global COVID-19 economic uncertainty."

Nicholas Belkin, Head of Acquisitions at Kooky, added: “‘Taking up the opportunity to work with Inland Homes proved to be a fluid acquisition from agreeing the deal through to exchange. The team at Inland were always on hand during the legal process. We are excited about our first Kooky rental building in High Wycombe and further deals to come with Inland Homes.”

While still only accounting for a small part of the marketplace – around 2-3% - BTR has been the fastest-growing part of the rental sector since 2016, seen as a low-risk option for institutional investors[1]. Indeed, the latest British Property Federation BTR map of the UK reveals there are now 167,853 BTR homes in the UK, of which 47,754 are complete, 34,132 under construction and 80,730 in planning. Outside London there are 90,285 homes and inside London there are 77,568 properties2

INLAND HOMES

Incorporated in the UK in 2005, Inland Homes plc is an AIM listed specialist house builder and brownfield developer, dedicated to achieving excellence in sustainability and design. As socially responsible housebuilders, our ethos is to deliver high-quality homes which suit today’s lifestyle and enhance the environment in which people live. We are committed to extensive public and community consultation in order to ensure that, where possible, local community needs and objectives are met. Our highly experienced team provide solutions to a variety of difficult and sensitive land situations. We create vibrant communities in which to live and work, benefitting not just those who reside there but the wider community too. Inland’s aim is to create sustainable communities and homes which set a benchmark for all future developments.

KOOKY

Kooky is a new and exciting BTR brand growing a portfolio of boutique properties around London and the commuter belt. Believing that all renters are unique and should be treated that way, Kooky offers beautifully stylish living and extraordinary levels of service. While a new, modern and growing brand, it is steeped in property experience and integrity as it is part of the Delph Property Group. The Kooky model prides itself on working closely with housebuilders who recognise the integrity and experience that the team bring to such forward commit opportunities. The key Kooky decision makers are always on hand, allowing them to confidently commit to 6 week exchange timeframes.

[1] https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2020/6/insight--who-is-driving-the-build-to-rent-boom

2 https://www.bpf.org.uk/what-we-do/bpf-build-rent-map-uk