Manchester skyline

A trusted development partner

We buy the best sites in the best locations to deliver strong rental growth.

An unrivalled track record

We have an excellent track record at delivering ambitious transformational regeneration projects that create the best places to live, with an emphasis on quality, community and sustainability.

Manchester skyline
Merrion Way

At a glance

14,448

delivered PBSA beds

>99% occupancy YOY

across managed assets

5,214

beds under management

>£2.09 billion

GDV completed beds

>£1.5 billion

development pipeline

6,106

beds in pipeline

Developments

Vega, Miles Street - external sign

Central London, UK

Student accommodation

841 beds

£275 million

Completed 2021

Vega is the third student accommodation scheme we have development in the Lambeth / Vauxhall area. Situated next to our Atlas development, Vega has 841 student rooms spanning 37 storeys, featuring extensive social and amenity spaces including a gym, games & study room.

Lambeth Road, London - platinum studio

Central London, UK

Student accommodation

133 beds

£35 million

Completed

Pound Field offers 133 luxury studio apartments in the heart of the historic Lambeth Palace Conservation Area. The development which overlooks the Houses of Parliament and Archbishops Park is perfect for Post Graduate / Master students who want a smaller student community.

River Street Tower, Manchester - outside

Manchester, UK

Student accommodation

792 beds

£150 million

Completed September 2020

River Street Tower is located close to the Mancunian way in Manchester city centre. We have been a huge part of the regeneration of this area of Manchester in recent years.

City Point Coventry - exterior view

Coventry, UK

Residential, Student accommodation

385 beds

Operational

City Point is the second phase of Downing’s Belgrade Plaza development in Coventry. The development will comprise of a 100 one and two bed residential apartments, alongside the 385 student bed accommodation.

Hollbrook platinum studio room

Central London, UK

Student accommodation

497 beds

Completed

A design-led property delivering high-end student living in the heart of London. We built Holbrook in 2019 and sold it to Greystar in 2022 as part of a £388m deal.

West Village Castlebank Street Glasgow

Glasgow, UK

Student accommodation

310 beds

£35million

Operational

Sitting adjacent to West Village Glasgow is Downing’s £35 million West View scheme. Located on Castlebank Street, it is just a short walk to the cities popular bars and restaurants.

Atlas Vauxhall student accommodation

Central London, UK

Student accommodation

578 beds

Operational

Downing’s £160 million scheme is an iconic 32 storey, purpose built student development of 570 bedrooms in the heart of Vauxhall and Nine Elms in Zone 1.

New Park, Edinburgh shared apartment

Edinburgh, UK

Student accommodation

238 beds

Operational

The scheme provides 238 student beds across 160 en-suite rooms and 78 studios. Students benefit from a large communal lounge, a cinema room and laundry room. The development has significant public open space creating a campus community.

City Village towers

Coventry, UK

Student accommodation

598 beds

Operational

Downing has competed a high quality residential, student and retail development at Belgrade Plaza, Coventry. The development comprises of 597 student bedrooms and 12,000 sq. ft. of retail and commercial accommodation, set adjacent to Belgrade Theatre.

ESG gardens
land acquisition - Broadcasting Tower, Leeds
/01

Land Acquisition

We are actively seeking land acquisition opportunities across the UK, with particular interest in Russell Group University Cities. We have substantial funds available and have a no-nonsense approach to acquisition. All land will be considered, with or without planning permission.

Our preference is for large brownfield city centre sites, with opportunity for mixed use regeneration including Purpose Built Student Accommodation, co-living and residential.

We will also consider transformation of existing a premises into residential accommodation.

Our experienced team

We have extensive experience in handling the intricacies of large-scale site acquisition. You can trust our knowledgeable team to guide you through the process with expertise and professionalism.

We are always ready to have an informal discussion at your convenience.

Testimonials

What our clients say

“It was a pleasure working with the Downing team on a recent transaction. Everyone in the organisation, from building managers through to the senior leadership, demonstrated creativity, professionalism and integrity. We look forward to working together again in the future.”

James Rosenfeld

Managing Director at Blackstone

“As one of the longest standing private Student developers, owner and operators in the UK, Downing has consistently demonstrated an ability to create modern, well located and expertly run communities for their customers. Their track record is undeniable and I look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

Joe Guilfoyle

Head of Savills Capital Advisors

“The move to The Capital was a huge decision for us at UKBA and therefore needed a construction company we could trust – not just with our brief on fit-out but with the security implications involved.  The George Downing Construction team were easy to work with – they understood our requirements from the start, delivered on time and within our budget and made the whole process a seamless and successful one.”

Hilary Dalton

Assistant Director at UK Border Agency

“Downing worked with Leeds Met in designing, building and financing a new development for our Faculty of Arts and Society. The design made a stunning addition to the Leeds skyline and throughout the process we found Downing’s attitude both positive and refreshing.”

Peter Slee

Vice Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University

“Well executed and deftly placed, the Broadcasting Place project positions itself as a strong contrast and yet still feels complementary to its context.”

Gordon Gill

CTBUH Awards Chair

“Downing have brought extensive commercial developer experience to the planning and design of the NUBS building. Throughout this process they have shown their willingness to appreciate and understand the needs of the HE Sector and to adapt to our specific requirements.”

Clare Rogers

Director of Estates at Newcastle University

“I would have no hesitation recommending George Downing Construction. When we expanded our office within The Port of Building, we were working to an incredibly tight timetable. Downing completed our fit-outs on time and within budget and we were able to move into our offices without any negative impact on business. Our staff and directors are delighted with the quality of the finished product.”

John Webb

Senior Director at NYK Group Europe Ltd