Rented housing firm Sigma acquires more sites

Edinburgh-based rented housing developer Sigma Capital Group said it acquired a further three sites in the West Midlands and North West of England to deliver 200 new rental homes.

It said the development cost of the new homes would be £27 million. 

“These sites take the total number of Sigma’s self-funded developments to seven and extend Sigma’s self-funded portfolio into the Midlands region,” said Sigma.

“Once the homes have been completed, Sigma’s own PRS portfolio will stand at approximately 420 units, located across Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Shropshire.

“The delivery of these sites is being facilitated by the funding agreed with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).”

Sigma said it expects to acquire further sites, deploying the HCA facility, to create a self-funded portfolio with a total gross development cost in excess of £60 million.  

The three new sites are located in Mafeking Road, Birmingham, Howe Bridge Mill, near Atherton in Lancashire, and Hinkshay Road, Telford and will comprise a mix of two, three and four bedroom rental family homes.

Construction will be undertaken by Sigma’s partner Countryside Properties and the first homes are expected to be available to rent in early autumn 2017. 

HCA chairman Edward Lister said: “Our £45 million loan from the Home Building Fund will mean that working with Sigma Capital we will help thousands of families in the North and Midlands move into a new, high-quality rented home. 

“Sigma Capital has already delivered its first homes and more than 370 more homes are to follow over the next 12 months.”

Sigma CEO Graham Barnet said: “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of a further three sites as we move towards our target of creating a self-funded portfolio with a total gross development cost of over £60 million.

“We will be using our funding facility with the HCA to deliver approximately 200 new rental homes across these sites, which are located in Birmingham, Telford and Atherton.

“These new rental homes are also helping to unlock the delivery of a wider development scheme which includes new market-for-sale and affordable homes.  

“We are delighted to be helping to deliver the HCA and Government’s objective of making more homes available across England. 

“Our PRS platform facilitates the faster delivery of new homes and, with our partners, we are executing across multiple geographic regions. We will be acquiring further sites with HCA funding.”