Top appointment for Northern Ireland property group as it expands into Manchester

Northern Ireland-based Martin Property Group (MPG) is opening a UK living division in Manchester with the former national head of build to rent at Lambert Smith Hampton at the helm.

Martin Property Group, a family-run development business based in Londonderry, will establish the new division to focus specifically on investment and development opportunities in Manchester’s BtR sector under the guidance of Ian Scott as managing director.

Ian Scott leaves his role as LSH after nine years which saw him transact more than £500m of BtR properties for developers and institutional investors before the age of 30 and become the LSH’s youngest ever director.

Now, with responsibility for setting up the Manchester office, developing MPG’s existing pipeline – which includes assets in Preston, Letchworth and Liverpool – and establishing the investment management arm of the business,  Ian intends to invest in the BtR sector directly as well as deliver MPG’s own projects.

Ian said: “In many ways the new Living division is essentially a start-up, but with the financial backing and resource of the highly regarded team at Martin Property Group.

“Our focus will be on creating partnerships with institutional capital, identifying new opportunities, and delivering schemes which we will operate in the long-term.

“We expect to bring 1,000 units forward over the next 24 months by focusing on multi-family and single-family homes – which are in particularly high demand and relatively quick to bring to market.

“We’ll focus heavily on the customer experience and deliver high quality accommodation in the areas which need it the most.  Our ambition is to have a 10-strong team in Manchester by the end of 2022.”

Gary Martin, Group Director at Martin Property Group said: “Attracting a well-respected, high achiever like Ian is essential for our next period of growth.

“I am glad that Ian is enthused by our existing projects, which includes the Fishergate Centre in Preston where we’re delivering a mixed-use scheme including Grade A offices, BtR, a hotel and a huge amount of public realm.

“We welcome him into the fold and look forward to investing and developing within the UK BTR market. It’s an exciting time to establish a Manchester office and we are keen to expand our presence in such a fast growing and vibrant city.”

Speaking about his departure from Lambert Smith Hampton, Ian added: “LSH provided me with the environment and support to establish myself in a new, fast-growing market.

“Now, it’s time to really harness my entrepreneurial intuition and build a new business from the ground-up. Working with Martin Property Group provides a fantastic opportunity to really capitalise on the UK’s strong BtR market.”

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