ABOUT US
Curlew Capital is an operational real estate investment and asset manager focused on the living real estate sectors. UK Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) is the core of our platform, alongside established capabilities in UK mid-market Build to Rent (BTR), development-led strategies and European beds sectors. We partner with institutional investors and family offices to originate, create, manage, and realise portfolios across the lifecycle, supported by disciplined governance, transparent reporting and alignment.
Explore: [PBSA] [BTR] [Development] [ESG]
Deep investment, development, and asset management track record across operational real estate.
OUR FOCUS
Curlew focuses on operational real estate where outcomes are driven by leasing execution, resident experience, cost control and asset stewardship, supported by creation-led delivery capability through forward funding, development-led execution and selective portfolio assembly. We apply this approach across UK PBSA (our core specialism), UK mid-market BTR and European beds strategies.
OUR STORY
PAUL OLIVER
Founder, Chairman
Curlew was founded in 2011 by Paul Oliver, with Charlie Oliver now leading the business as Managing Director. It remains a family-owned firm, with the Olivers investing personal capital alongside the institutional and private capital we manage.
The platform was an early mover in UK PBSA as a source of stable, non-cyclical returns, launching Curlew Student Trust (CST) in 2013 and Curlew Student Trust 2 (CST2) in 2018.
Across these programmes, Curlew has developed creation-led capability, portfolio assembly experience, and a disciplined approach to mobilisation, lease-up and hold-period asset management. In parallel, Curlew has expanded selectively into adjacent living sectors, including a UK mid-market BTR strategy and selective European expansion across the wider living sectors.
CHARLIE OLIVER
CEO
Milestones
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2011 - Curlew founded by Paul Oliver
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2013 - Launch of Curlew Student Trust (CST)
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2018 - Launch of Curlew Student Trust 2 (CST2); first European living-sector mandate established
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2020-2021 - Delivery and completion of first European living-sector assets
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2023 - Selected CST disposals; retained operational management role on sold assets
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2026 - CST extended; CST2 continuing with operational assets and development sites
GOVERNANCE AND ALIGNMENT
Curlew’s approach is built around disciplined governance and transparency, with structured business planning and oversight through the hold period. As a family-owned firm, the Olivers and other key executives invest personal capital alongside our investors to provide full alignment, including appropriate performance mechanisms. Investors receive quarterly reporting covering performance against plan and operational, strategic and risk matters.
OUR TEAM
Curlew is led by an experienced management team with deep sector networks across operational real estate. The senior team brings 100+ years of combined experience across operational real estate investment, development and asset management.
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Meet the team: [Our Team]
RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
Responsible Investment is integrated into Curlew’s investment and asset management approach. For operational real estate, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are not separate from performance: they influence resident outcomes, regulatory risk, operating costs and long-term asset value.
Our Responsible Investment approach includes:
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Integration into underwriting and business planning - identifying material risks and opportunities at acquisition and embedding actions into the asset plan
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Operational delivery - implementable measures that improve building performance, safety and resident experience
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Governance and reporting - oversight and disclosure aligned to institutional investor requirements
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Asset-level initiatives - working with operating partners and suppliers to support delivery on agreed objectives
Learn more: [ESG]
2019
Curlew's 22a Potterrow shortlisted for the Student Accommodation Development of the Year at the Scottish Property Awards.
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Curlew shortlisted for PW Fund Manager of the Year Award and wins MSCI Real Estate Data Quality Award.
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Curlew shortlisted for PW Student Investor of the Year Award
2015
CST reaches £500m in 20 PBSA properties across UK.
OUR
HISTORY
2020
Curlew expansion continues with four new senior management hires and three development project acquisitions.
Two co-living developments completed in the Netherlands.
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Forward funding of two PBSA developments in Bermondsey & Bath.
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Curlew agrees a £50m development loan with Barclays Bank
2021
Curlew secures £44m loan with Lloyds Bank.
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Shortlisted again for PW Student Investor of the Year Award.
Two new PBSA schemes completed (Pavillion Point, Brighton and St Benedicts Gate, Norwich) delivering 694 beds.
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The Lantern, Liverpool wins PW PBSA 'Best Halls of Residence'.
2022
Two new PBSA schemes open - Centurion House, Bath and View Studios, Bermondsey
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Curlew achieves 5-star GRESB rating for CST1.
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1997
Largest single UK investor capital raise in 1990s – £510m of equity from 21 investors for LendLease Retail Partnership – Bluewater and Solihull Shopping Centres.
1998
Advised Standard Life on European Capital Fund – one of the first collective investment schemes specialising in properties from Europe.
2000
Acquired asset in Doncaster for consortium to create £250m Frenchgate Interchange & Shopping Centre under Public/Private Initiative.
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Fairbriar Residential Partnership – one of the first residential funds to attract institutional investors.
2002
Teesland PLC listed on main London Stock Exchange becoming the UK’s 2nd listed institutional property Fund Manager.
Osprey LP launched – a UK mixed commercial property fund, subsequently the top performing fund in the AREF All Balanced Fund Index over 1, 3 and 5 years.
2004
IO Group acquired – UK’s first listed property fund manager.
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Launch by Seven Dials of advisory service, providing analysis of UK indirect property vehicles.
2018
Curlew and CBRE GIP sell 75% of CST Portfolio, comprising 5,400 beds across 15 PBSA assets, to Brookfield.
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Curlew and CBRE GIP launch CST2, focussing on the Development and Forward Funding of UK PBSA led mixed-use development.
CST wins MSCI UK Property Investment Award, achieving the highest 3 year returns to Dec 2017 of all 225 UK funds.
2005
University Capital Trust (UCT) launched – a forerunner in collective institutional investment in ‘direct let’ UK PBSA).
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TAP launched – a high-yielding listed ‘REIT lookalike’ designed for small cap/high yield, public market investors.
2006
Nordic Aktiv Fund launched (€800m) – first and largest fund raise to arise from newly merged Teesland IOG.
2007
Teesland PLC de-listed to enable its sale alongside sister company, Scarborough, to the Valad Group an Australian ‘REIT’.
2008
Paul Oliver collects the Estates Gazette ‘Fund Manager of the Year’ award for the top performance of UCT, Osprey Partnership and Teesland Advantage Property (TAP).
2011
Curlew Capital is founded.
Abbeygate, Chester is the first joint venture with the Watkin Jones Group.
2013
Curlew Capital creates joint venture with CBRE Global Investment Partners - Curlew Student Trust (CST).
2023
Sale of 6 assets from CST1 to Aviva Investors for £150m.
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Curlew to continue operational management of Aviva's portfolio.
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2016
Curlew wins innaugural Property Week Student Investor of the year award.
2025
2024
Curlew support Aviva on purchase of West End Studios, Glasgow (99 bed PBSA scheme)
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Potterrow, Edinburgh wins GOLD Award at BETTER FUTURE London Design Awards 2025.
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£230m Project Sandpiper sale of 7 assets from CST2 to KKR
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