In 2019, progressive regional developer Cubex Land felt there was a real need to reach out to the committee planning members. Of course, they had their officers and a local plan to guide them, but that didn't help when trying to understand what Build to Rent was and how it both complemented and enhanced urban development. Often, large urban residential schemes can pass through a number of ownerships before they actually get built. Sometimes well after the initial application, stagnating regeneration. This is due to the nature of the sector. Although large and regional housebuilders will take planning risk, and the gain that comes with it, there are a significant number of entrepreneurial companies whose single-minded goal is to achieve a buildable consent and sell the opportunity on to a third party. Of course, this creates doubt as to when the consented scheme might actually get built.
Build to Rent removes this doubt as it is predicated on delivery of a rental product as quickly and efficiently as possible by a fully funded institutional investor. So, no third parties, no selling on. The schemes simply get built.
Certainty and the professionalism of management was one of the points we tried to convey and in this document. It is largely couched in layman's terms using phrases that the general public would be familiar with and relate to. In doing this, I wanted to cover the essence of Build to Rent and its advantages and benefits in urban renewal in clear unambiguous language.
Many thanks to Cubex Land for the commission which I thoroughly enjoyed writing. It also helped with one of my chief bug-bears: turning our sector's penchant for introspection and debate 180° and reaching out beyond the industry to explain what we do and why we do it. Download the document here: I hope you enjoy reading it.