'Preston is a logical next step'- MCR Property Group expands in Preston with student accommodation acquisition
Two student blocks in Preston have been bought by a major real estate firm it has been confirmed today.
One of the country’s leading real estate investment and development companies has bought two of Preston’s biggest student accomodation blocks.
MCR Property Group has expanded its Flow Student platform with the acquisition of an 862- bed student accommodation portfolio in Preston, strengthening its presence in one of the North West’s key university cities.
The portfolio comprises Foundry Court, a 438-bed student accommodation scheme on Brook Street, and Trinity Student Village on Great Shaw Street, which provides a further 424 beds.
Together, the assets give Flow Student immediate scale in Preston and represent another significant step in MCR Property Group’s strategy to build a nationally recognised student accommodation platform, according to the firm.
The two schemes are located within easy reach of Preston’s university campus, city centre, transport links and Preston railway station, positioning them to serve the city’s large student population with well-located, professionally managed accommodation.
Foundry Court offers a range of en-suite student rooms alongside communal social and study spaces, while Trinity Student Village provides well-connected student living close to the city centre and campus.
Across both schemes, residents benefit from practical amenities including shared living areas, study space, laundry facilities, secure access and all-inclusive living.
MCR Property Group says the acquistion reflects its wider investment strategy of acquiring well- located student accommodation assets with strong underlying demand, investing in their quality and using active management to improve both resident experience and long-term asset performance.
MCR Property Group will deliver a targeted programme of improvements across both properties, focused on accommodation quality, communal areas, operational delivery and the overall resident experience.
The transition will also bring the assets into Flow Student’s hands-on operational model, combining local management with the wider investment, asset management and property expertise of MCR Property Group.
Nick Lake, Fund Director at MCR Property Group, said: “Preston is a logical next step for Flow Student. It is an established university city with strong underlying demand, excellent connectivity and a clear requirement for good- quality, accessible student accommodation.
“Foundry Court and Trinity Student Village give us immediate scale in one of the North West’s key university markets. Both assets are established, well located and offer clear scope for operational improvement, targeted investment and long-term value creation.
“This acquisition is further evidence that we are executing exactly the strategy we set out: acquire assets with strong fundamentals, deploy capital intelligently and use active management to improve performance.
“Scale matters, but only when it is matched by discipline. We are not growing for the sake of it. We are building a platform with operational depth, clear performance standards and a sharp focus on the student experience.
“With our current acquisition pipeline, we are confident that Flow Student will meet its target of reaching 10,000 beds in 2026. Foundry Court and Trinity Student Village give us a meaningful presence in Preston and represent another important milestone in delivering that plan.”
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Flow Student has grown rapidly since launch and now operates thousands of student beds across key university cities throughout the UK.
The platform continues to expand through targeted acquisitions, capital investment and a focus on improving operational performance, accommodation quality and the student experience.
MCR Property Group say the addition of Foundry Court and Trinity Student Village reinforces its confidence in the purpose-built student accommodation sector and keeps Flow Student on course to reach a 10,000-bed portfolio during 2026, which is expected to place the platform among the top 15 student accommodation operators in the UK.
A further acquisition is also expected to complete very soon, continuing the momentum behind Flow Student’s national growth strategy.