Aviva completes deal for Liverpool PBSA, Premier Inn 

Curlew Capital and CBRE IM have sold the Lantern, which is close to Lime Street station, as part of a £150m deal. 

Aviva Investors has bought six assets in four locations in the UK, including, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Exeter, and Falmouth, which together provide beds for more than 1,000 students. 

The assets were previously held by the Curlew Student Trust, which was established in 2013 and was backed by CBRE Investment Management. 

The Lantern, developed by Ion Developments and Sigma and forward funded by Curlew, features 412 student beds, a 101-bedroom Premier Inn hotel, and a Lidl supermarket on the ground floor. 

Curlew has been retained by Aviva as operating partner. 

James Stevens, head of real estate investment at Aviva Investors, said: “Complementing our build-to-rent platform of single-family homes, this significant transaction shows our ability to deploy capital at scale, alongside a proven operating partner, into a strategically important growth sector for our business. 

“Student numbers are projected to continue growing in the coming years and, with a structural undersupply of purpose-built accommodation, we are pleased to be able to invest into the sector and support the provision of high-quality accommodation across the country.” 

Curlew and CBRE IM were contacted for comment.