Cortland ventures into Greater Manchester
“It has the biggest inward migration in the UK”, said Owain Thomas, managing director of the US-based property management company, on why the firm chose the city region for its UK flagship scheme.
Cortland’s Owain Thomas says that the company’s USP is customer service. Credit: via SECNewgate
Headquartered in Atlanta, Cortland is a real estate investment, development, and management company focused on delivering resident-centric, hospitality-driven apartment living experiences.
This focus is shown through Cortland at Colliers Yard, the company’s UK flagship scheme that was completed last month to deliver 559 apartments across 51 floors in Salford’s emerging Greengate district.
In talking about the scheme, Thomas refers to its location as Manchester. This can be seen as a reflection of how far Salford, where the building actually is, has come in its regeneration.
Residents of Cortland at Colliers Yard have access to 25,300 sq ft of amenities across three floors including a golf simulator, gym, and a lounge with a bar set to be operated on a rotational basis by local vendors.
The bar will be operated by local vendors. Credit: BINYAN
“Cortland’s unique selling point is customer service”, Thomas told Place.
“Everything we do is focused on the resident”, he said, describing how the company’s roles as investor, developer, and owner-operator are truly integrated.
“The Cortland brand is always above the door.”
There is 25,300 sq ft of amenities across three flours. Credit: BINYAN
Managing more than 80,000 homes in the US, Cortland expanded its services into the UK in around 2017. The company already manages Cortland Cassiobury in Watford, while Cortland Broad St in Birmingham is set to complete in March.
In the North West, Cortland also manages Baltic Yard in Liverpool and Botanica in Manchester on behalf of third-party clients.
Despite these other big projects, amounting to around 1,000 units, Thomas described Manchester as the “ideal location” for Cortland’s UK flagship with an emphasis on the city’s future growth. The company purchased the Colliers Yard site in 2021 from developer Renaker, which built the OMI Architects-designed tower.
Thomas said: “With nearly 250 communities in the US and a strong track record as the top US brand in property management, this milestone means we can bring our extensive experience and the offer of an elevated living experience to the city’s renters.”
Cortland has ambitions to invest and “go big” in Manchester, with plans to build a portfolio of more than 1,000 units in the city.
Thomas concluded: “Our vision is to redefine the very essence of modern urban living in Manchester and across the UK, and we can’t wait for this vision to come to life as more and more residents join the Cortland at Colliers Yard community.”
