MCR Property Group has completed the acquisition of a large portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), significantly expanding its national footprint and reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s most active investors in the student living sector.
The portfolio, acquired from Arlington Advisors, comprises 1,013 bedroom across five prime city-centre assets. These include Corporation Village, Burges House, Pillar Box and Market Way in Coventry and Clarendon Street in Nottingham.
Each property is situated within walking distance of major universities, benefitting from strong occupancy histories, direct-let operating models and amenity-led environments tailored to the expectations of modern students.
As part of the integration process, MCR is retaining the existing on-site teams at all newly acquired properties and investing in further operational support across marketing, asset management and student experience. A new dedicated PBSA brand platform is currently in development and will launch later this year, designed to bring consistency, visibility and a student-first identity to the growing portfolio.
MCR’s PBSA division is backed by over two decades of experience in delivering and managing residential and student housing in core UK cities. The group’s vertically integrated model allows for seamless transition, refurbishment delivery and asset repositioning, enabling long-term value creation across every scheme.
“We see a compelling opportunity in the PBSA market, driven by undersupply and strong rental performance in key university cities. Our history as a fast-moving, value-led investor gives us the confidence and capability to scale quickly and deliver impact.
This acquisition is a significant step in the expansion of our student living platform, and we look forward to continuing that momentum in the months ahead. We would like to thank the Collegiate team for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this process.”
Nick Lake, Fund Director, MCR Property Group
The acquisition supports MCR’s long-term growth strategy in the PBSA sector and brings its total student bedroom count to over 2,700 across the UK. This includes established schemes such as Haigh Court and Unity Square in Liverpool, Park Village in Sheffield and Clanny House in Sunderland, all of which are managed by the group’s in-house lettings and operations team.
The company also confirmed that further PBSA acquisitions are in the pipeline, with a number of transactions expected to complete in the coming weeks.
