Watkin Jones has £900m of student schemes in pipeline

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

Watkin Jones has a student accommodation pipeline of £900m across 25 sites as the sector continues to thrive.

CEO Mark Watkin Jones said the firm has an "excellent development pipeline"
CEO Mark Watkin Jones said the firm has an "excellent development pipeline"

The firm added in its interim results today that it is is “currently in negotiation on a number of other opportunities which it is expected will further add to this pipeline in the second half of the year.”

Strong demand in the student accommodation sector helped Watkin Jones make a pre-tax profit of £23.6m on a turnover of £158.3m for the six months to March 31 2018 compared to £21.1m and £133.7m respectively last time.

Watkin Jones is also expanding in the build to rent market with five schemes planned including those in Reading and Uxbridge.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Watkin Jones said: “We are continuing to see strong demand for our student accommodation developments and are pleased that demand from institutional investors, keen to acquire scale in this maturing asset class, remains robust.  

“We have an excellent development pipeline and we are excited about several other opportunities expected to be added to the pipeline in the second half of the year.

“The Group is now in control of five build to rent development sites and remains in positive negotiations on several other opportunities.  We remain optimistic about the scale of opportunities this sector offers.”

Latest news

Morgan Sindall upgrades profits forecast for this year

Overbury fitout and construction operations exceed trading expectations
9 hours ago

Major project bidders to face ‘British jobs’ test

Contractors to face tougher jobs pledge scrutiny under new procurement shake-up
1 day ago

Green light for £32m Wythenshawe Culture Hub

Construction to start this year on first phase of £500m town centre revamp
9 hours ago

Hercules delivers record first half as HS2 fuels growth

Labour supply specialist says HS2 demand climbing with 630 workers now deployed
8 hours ago

Private equity firm acquires Hepworth Clay pipes business

Historic UK drainage manufacturer sold by Wavin
9 hours ago

Balfour Beatty names new Scottish MD

Nick Rowan to take reins as Hector MacAulay to retire after 40 years
1 day ago

£500m rail deal locks in future for Scunthorpe steelworks

Government-backed deal with Network Rail safeguards UK production
7 hours ago

Morrison rides in for £19m mountain bike R&D hub

Flagship Borders cycling R&D hub set for Caerlee Mill site
1 day ago

Revised plan submitted for Manchester landmark towers

400 more flats added to Albert Bridge House scheme
1 day ago

Job losses loom at consultant GHD

Redundancy consultation underway with jobs at risk
1 day ago

Knight Harwood lifts margin to 4.9% as profit hits £6.5m

London specialist sees strong office and luxury resi pipeline
1 day ago

Hampshire launches £150m minor works reboot

General builders, M&E and roofing firms invited to apply
1 day ago

Winners named for £2.6bn NHS SBS Modular 3 framework

Twenty-seven secure spots on health, education and resi framework
4 days ago

Leeds kicks off homes vision for Elland Road regeneration

Council plans to deliver 2,000 homes around United’s revamped stadium
4 days ago

Former Mace deputy chairman Mark Holmes awarded CBE

King's Birthday Honours spotlights industry's architecture and environment achievements
1 day ago

Britcon targets £70m turnover after string of framework wins

Major AMP8 win and regional expansion fuel contractor’s biggest growth push yet
4 days ago

Go-ahead for 37-storey tower at Leeds Merrion Centre

Town Centre Securities to deliver over 1,000 student rooms
4 days ago

Taylor Wimpey fined £800k after apprentice falls down stairwell

Teenage brickie injured after falling with pile of concrete blocks
5 days ago

Green light for life sciences buildings in campus expansion

Construction to start this year on Wellcome Genome Campus in South Cambridgeshire
4 days ago

Morgan Sindall scores £63m twin wins on flagship leisure projects

£36m Southampton and £27m Bishop Auckland jobs get underway
4 days ago

Hill and L&G partner on £450m Coventry city centre revamp

Partners to deliver opening phase of 991-home City Centre South scheme
5 days ago

Graham snaps up sector veteran to lead office fit-outs

Peter Allan most recently held director roles at ISG and Overbury
4 days ago

Construction growth of 0.9% bucks wider shrinking economy

Construction output climbs for third straight month
5 days ago

Crest Nicholson returns to profit

House builder back in the black after huge fire safety provisions last year
5 days ago

JN Bentley profit surges as revenue tops £500m

Surging water work and plant investment underpin £19m profit
5 days ago

Willmott Dixon bags £49m East London business school job

Builder secures second job in a year for Queen Mary University
5 days ago

Another extension for competition probe into house builders

Spotlight will stay on seven housing giants for another few months
6 days ago

Strike ballot for 1,500 Sellafield construction workers

36 contractors working on nuclear clean-up could be hit
5 days ago

WSP to buy Ricardo

Consulting giant to add another 2,700 staff
6 days ago

Infrastructure and major projects boost profits at Vp

Specialist construction, water and transmission sectors are star performers
6 days ago

Contractor services