Osborne Clarke has advised long-standing client Student Castle on the disposal of a £330 million student accommodation portfolio announced today. The disposal comprises some 2,153 beds across five student accommodation schemes in the UK and has been sold to CPPIB Liberty Living, a wholly owned business of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).

Student Castle was established five years ago by Edward Cade and Jacqui Hawthorn as a high quality student accommodation developer and operator across the UK. Student Castle is backed by Sir Charles Dunstone and Roger Taylor, Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively of the Dixons Carphone Group.

The five schemes involved are the Student Castle buildings at Leman Street, in London; Great Marlborough Street in Manchester; Melbourne Street in Newcastle; Park Place in Bristol; and Adam Street in Cardiff.

The Osborne Clarke team was led by Nick Simpson (real estate) with Conrad Davies (corporate) and Madeleine Clark (banking) and assisted by Mark Wesker and Adam Love (corporate), Simon Hancock (projects), Lauren Scott (banking), Phil Davies (construction), John Baird (planning), Tracey Wright (tax) and Danielle Kingdon (employment).

Nick Simpson, Partner said,

“The Student Castle transaction has been a great project to work on. The work represents many years of close collaboration, from the initial acquisition and development of these schemes, to completion of a successful sale of the first tranche of this growing portfolio.”

Edward, CEO said,

“I was pleased to have OC advising on this key transaction as they have worked with us since inception of the portfolio and have a genuine understanding of our business, student housing and the sector in general. This was key to delivering the sale within the tight timescales set by the parties.”

Jacqui, COO said,

“We are immensely proud of our success in producing such high quality assets and will continue to be the leaders in the development and operation of high quality student accommodation in the UK. Student Castle’s pipeline of developments in York, Cambridge, Durham, Oxford, Bath and Glasgow – to name a few – will certainly keep us focused for the next few years."