International law firm Trowers & Hamlins has supported Malaysia’s leading engineering and property group, Gamuda Berhad, on the second phase of its joint venture with Singapore-based Q Investment Partners (QIP), involving the expansion of a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Woolwich.
Trowers originally acted for Gamuda on the establishment of the JV and its first asset acquisition, a site in Woolwich to develop a 299-bed PBSA scheme alongside Hurlington Capital. The project will be one of the first PBSA schemes within the Woolwich Royal Arsenal regeneration area.
The expansion of the JV with the acquisition of the Phase Two site, which completed in June 2025, will add 120 student bedrooms to the platform, bringing the total to 419 bedrooms across both phases, and a combined GDV of c.£144.5m. The Phase Two site was acquired from London-based investor and developer Hurlington Capital and is scheduled for completion in Q4 2026.
Partners Geoff Allen and Tom Reynolds, who led the Trowers & Hamlins team between our Malaysia and London offices, commented:
"We are proud to have once again supported Gamuda on the expansion of its UK student accommodation portfolio in partnership with QIP. This latest acquisition reflects growing international confidence in the UK PBSA sector, and we’re proud to play a role in delivering high-quality developments in key regeneration areas like Woolwich."
Niall Farmer, Head of Gamuda Land UK, commented:
"We are delighted to have strengthened our JV platform with Q Investment Partners in relation to this important and strategically located regeneration project in London, and to have expanded our UK PBSA portfolio demonstrating our commitment to growing our investment in this sector.
This forms part of our broader strategy to develop approximately 3,000 beds by 2029, with a focused presence in key Russell Group university cities where structural undersupply continues to drive resilient demand. We are pleased to have worked again with Trowers & Hamlins, who provided commercially-driven and timely advice throughout the process."
The wider Trowers team included Senior Associates Sarah Jane Chia, Anna Shemeld and Hannah Eastaff.
