I was appointed to act for U+I to act on the disposal of the residential element of the Preston Barracks masterplan.

The site includes planning consent for 369 new homes was bought by  Optivo Housing Association who will deliver a mix of homes for sale and affordable rent.

We are instructed to approach a short list of developers that were capable of delivering the scheme, sufficiently well funded, bought into the design quality and suitable as a delivery partner for the overall regernation.

The Preston Barracks development is on one of three sites that forms a wider masterplan and is a partnership between U+I, Brighton & Hove City Council and University of Brighton. Together the partners are delivering one of Brighton’s biggest ever regeneration projects.

In addition to the 369 new homes being delivered by Optivo, Scape Student Living is also building 555 student beds. U+I’s first building due to complete in December 2019 providing workspace for the city’s start-ups and SMEs.

The £300m masterplan will establish the Lewes Road area as a thriving new academic and economic corridor in Brighton and deliver a vibrant and new community with the new student beds and new homes, in addition to a business school, an entrepreneurial hub, shops, cafes, roof top bar, workshops, leisure facilities, play spaces, public squares, new pedestrian bridge and a new boardwalk to the station.

The investment will create over 1,500 jobs and inject more than £280 million into the local economy over the next ten years.

Acted jointly with Savills.