Valeo Invests in Student Accommodation

Valeo Group Europe has revealed plans to invest £600m-£750m in the UK student accommodation sector over the next four years.

The move represents part of a pan-European acquisition strategy. Last year, Valeo entered the student sector by acquiring Urban Student Life, which manages thousands of student bed spaces across the country.

The deal also included the operation and management of LIVStudent, which came online in Dublin last year. The same company, now operated under the Valeo Group brand, is due to open a scheme in Sheffield in time for the 2019-20 academic year.

Chairman Ted Rollins founded Valeo in 2004 and is looking to build schemes with 400-600 beds near cities such as Birmingham, Sheffield and Belfast.

Valeo is also looking to expand its presence in Spain and Portugal and last year closed a fund with Spanish bank Bankinter.

The fund will invest between EUR 375-425m developing the LIVStudent brand in the region's main university towns.