Rettie & Co has hired Gillian McLees from CRM Students as its head of build to rent (BTR) operations.
The independent property specialist has created the position build on its strength in a fast growing sector of the market.
McLees, who has 20 years' experience in the business, has spent the last seven working on student accommodation.
Major build-to-rent development to go on market next month
She will work alongside Matthew Benson, Rettie ’s head of development services, BTR business development director Hazel Sharp-Webb and the firm’s market-leading research unit run by Dr John Boyle.
McLees was previously head of operations for Scotland and the north at CRM Students , a leading provider of student accommodation. She was responsible for more than 4,000 units across 17 sites in 10 cities.
Benson said: “Gillian has worked in Scotland and across the UK on some of the biggest private PBSA sector projects of the last few years. Her experience in working with contractors and investors is just the kind of mix we require as we move into our next phase of activity around build to rent in Scotland.”
The build to rent sector is growing quickly with a pipeline of around 6,500 homes in Scotland including at Dundee Waterfront, Aberdeen Harbour, Glasgow’s Avenues Project and Western Harbour in Edinburgh.
Rettie & Co works in both an advisory and operational capacity across the Scottish BTR sector, including at the Western Harbour development in Edinburgh alongside Forth Ports and City of Edinburgh Council where as many as 2,000 new homes could be provided.
McLees said: “Rettie & Co is at the very forefront of BTR in Scotland, supported by a dedicated team of property professionals, so it’s a great time to be joining with so much opportunity for the sector to really take off here over the next few years.”
