UK: Property investor and developer Downing is cofounding a new real estate investment management business, which will be led by Jessica Hardman, former head of European portfolio management and UK CEO at global investment manager DWS.
The new company is called Aboria Capital and will be headquartered in London.
Downing has more than 20 years’ experience in global real estate investment management and was recently appointed a president of the British Property Federation (BPF).
She will work alongside Downing, which has a 35-year development and operational track record, delivering more than £3 billion in UK real estate development, including 14,500 beds in the PBSA sector.
Hardman will initially focus on realising Downing’s £1.6 billion pipeline, which includes 10 new projects planned to start across the UK in 2025 and 2026.
The schemes include the £400 million Square Gardens coliving scheme in Manchester, and are planned to seed the first stage of a multi-year growth plan for Aboria Capital.
Downing said: “Downing is recognised as a seasoned, high-quality living operating and development business. The UK and European living sector continue to be the most favoured sector by international investors especially where managers can offer the benefits of a vertically integrated value chain across both the investment and operational disciplines.”
Bay Downing, executive director at Downing, added: “We want to take advantage of the current dislocation in the market and the cyclical investment opportunities in front of us, which will produce long term generational value. We feel now is the right time to launch Aboria Capital, bringing together two hugely complementary skill sets in real estate and global investment management.”
