Britain’s largest listed residential landlord, Grainger, has struck a long-term deal with =Network Rail and the property developer Bloc Group to deliver 2,000 Build To rent homes across the country. 

The scheme is part of Grainger’s ‘blocwork’ joint venture to build on brownfield sites adjacent to railway infrastructure, with the purpose of boosting local economies.

Network Rail, which manages the UK’s rail infrastructure network, will bring forward potential sites from its property portfolio, with the blocwork venture taking the schemes through the planning process.

The partnership has already seen one project through to completion – 348 BTR units in a 10-storey block next to Nottingham Midland stations. 

Helen Gordon, chief executive officer at Grainger, says: “Having successfully delivered The Barnum, a build-to-rent scheme of 348 homes, with the Network Rail and Bloc Joint Venture ‘blocwork’, we see this as a great opportunity to collaborate further and deliver a potential 2,000 much needed high-quality rental homes across the country, aligned to our city strategy.

“This partnership supports Grainger’s ambitious growth plans and provides access to superbly located and well-connected sites.”

The partnership was announced along with Grainger’s trading statement to shareholders, which showed occupancy across its private rented portfolio hit 98.6 per cent, an all-time high, with rental revenue growth of 8.0 per the past year. 

Grainger operates a £3.3 billion portfolio of 10,208 private rental homes and has a £1.6 billion pipeline of 5,634 BTR units.