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

Square Gardens, Manchester

Manchester, UK

Residential & Commercial

Under construction

2,224 apartments

Square Gardens, is a 830,000 sq ft site in the First Street district of Manchester city centre. It is our first co-living scheme and spans three state-of-the-art buildings that will offer 2,224 new apartments to rent.

Merrion Way

Leeds, UK

Events venue, Student accommodation

In-progress

1,209 rooms with 107,000 sq ft events venue

We are developing a mixed-use scheme, comprising student accommodation and a multi-purpose events venue.

Brighton artist impression

Brighton, UK

Student accommodation

555 beds

In-progress

Downing has been granted permission by Lewes District Council to construct a new student accommodation in Brighton.

Heber Street development

Newcastle, UK

Student accommodation

411 beds

In-progress

Downing will develop 411 student beds on Heber Street in Newcastle city centre. This is the final phase of the regeneration of the former Scottish and Newcastle brewery site that we acquired and transformed

North Acton Holiday Inn residential

Central London, UK

Student accommodation

699 PBSA beds & 91 BTR beds

In-progress

A brand new development will soon replace the existing Holiday Inn Express on Victoria Road, North Acton. The development will consist of two impressive towers, rising to 17 and 35-storeys, offering a mix of 699 student accommodation beds and 91 build-to-rent units.

Bristol acquisition success

Bristol, UK

Site acquisition

In-progress

Downing has made its first acquisition in Bristol with the purchase of NCP’s Nelson Street Car Park. Situated in the heart of the city, the purchased site covers approximately 0.64 acres, with 295 car parking spaces arranged over ten split levels and eight retail units.

The Mont, road side - external

Edinburgh, UK

Student accommodation

324 beds

Complete

A purpose-built student accommodation property, The Mont boasts an exceptional location, just a short walk to the university campus. State of the art facilities include a gym, cinema room, private dining room, games area and study zones.

Downing property development

Leeds, UK

Educational

£80million

Complete

The scheme, which was designed by Hawkins Brown and built by Downing offers a 180-seat theatre, a 220-seat Dolby Atmos cinema, recording studios, TV studio and film studios, as well as numerous other diverse teaching and breakout spaces.

Miles Yard London garden view

Central London, UK

Office space

27,457 sq ft

Completed

Miles Yard is a new office development with 27,457 sq ft across six floors. Located in Vauxhall, central London it’s perfectly formed for a business who wants a self-contained HQ-style building.

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 organization, 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