Torsion Group and Zenzic Capital have announced a new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) joint venture with the acquisition of five major schemes with a gross development value of more than £147m. 

Leeds-based residential developer, contractor and operator Torsion, and real estate credit investment manager Zenzic, have two schemes which are newly built and fully let - Trapezium in Leeds and One Hockley in Nottingham.

A further three new developments are under construction - Burnsall Road, Warwick, Corner Point, Nottingham and Burley Street, Leeds.

The three new developments will be delivered by Torsion in time for the start of the 2025/26 academic year. 

In line with both parties’ focus on ESG, sustainability is central to the design and construction of all five schemes, with the three new developments targeting a minimum BREEAM Very Good rating. 

The completed assets will be operated by Torsion-owned LUNA Students.

Dan Spencer, CEO of Torsion Group, said: “Having worked with Nadine Buckland, CEO at Zenzic Capital for over eight years, I am excited to form a joint venture and partner with them in the delivery of this current pipeline. 

“Our strong relationship with Zenzic made forming the joint venture seamless, and we look forward to doing many more deals together. The partnership gives us a strong foundation to scale and accelerate our growth in the PBSA sector.

“We are actively taking measures to reduce our embodied carbon emissions on all our developments. That is because sustainability remains at the forefront of our strategy and decision-making as we look to play a leading role in delivering decarbonisation across the construction sector.”

Nadine Buckland, CEO of Zenzic Capital, added: “The UK student accommodation sector is underpinned by a number of highly attractive tailwinds including growing student numbers, an acute shortage of high-quality supply and an inflation-protected income profile that enhances returns for our investors against a challenging wider macroeconomic backdrop.

“We have already established a strong track record in the PBSA market, and this strategy enables us to increase our exposure to a sector that is one of our most compelling conviction calls.”

“As part of this strategy, we look forward to building on our longstanding relationship with Torsion through this joint venture as we work together to deliver a best-in-class, sustainable product that meets the needs of modern students.”