Starlight Investments announced that the National Housing Bank, a division of Homes England, has joined as a cornerstone investor in Starlight UK Build-to-Rent Fund II with a £100-million investment aimed at accelerating rental housing delivery across England.

The equity investment is among the first made through the National Housing Bank, the U.K. government’s new vehicle for long-term housing and regeneration investment. The fund will support the delivery of 6,000 rental homes across major regional cities including Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, as well as London commuter markets facing rental housing shortages.

Starlight said its U.K. residential asset-management platform, launched in 2020, now includes 4,000 homes and £1.1 billion in assets under management. The Toronto-based company said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to increasing rental housing supply and supporting sustainable community development.

“Starlight’s UK residential strategy is rooted in responsible, long-term investment and a commitment to providing high quality rental options for residents,” said Daniel Drimmer, Starlight’s found and CEO. “Building on our expanding U.K. portfolio, this partnership marks an important milestone as we continue to grow our BTR platform and align private investment with outcomes that benefit local communities.”

Simon Century, National Housing Bank’s CEO, said the investment demonstrates the role institutional capital can play in expanding England’s housing supply.

“This is exactly the kind of investment – made through the government’s National Housing Bank – that will help to transform England’s housing market,” Century said. “Supporting international capital to commit to building thousands of new homes in towns and cities across the country is a hugely encouraging sign that England’s residential market is open for business and able to attract institutional investment to support growth.”

Century added that Starlight’s “approach to development, professional management and institutional ownership of mid-market rental housing aligns with our place-based priorities.”

Starlight is a Toronto-headquartered global real estate investment and asset-management firm with more than 70,000 multi-residential suites, over seven million square feet of commercial space and approximately $30 billion in assets under management.

Homes England is the British government’s housing and regeneration agency. The group works with partners to drive the development of more affordable, quality homes and thriving places to ensure that everyone in England has a place to live and grow.

Pictured: Starlight’s build-to-rent project in Basildon, England.

Photo: Courtesy of Starlight