UK: The inaugural winners of the Urban Living Impact Awards were celebrated at the Urban Living Festival held in London.
These awards were introduced to recognize outstanding companies, individuals, and properties within the urban living sector.
The judging panel comprised prominent figures including James Pargeter, senior advisor at Global Apartment Advisors; Katherine Rose, managing director of VervLife; Aceil Haddad, founder of Matt PR; Angeliki Krania, environmental manager at Related Argent; Stephanie Smith, head of group strategy at App Group; George Sell, editor-in-chief at International Hospitality Media; and Eloise Hanson, editor for hospitality at International Hospitality Media.
Below are the inaugural Urban Living Impact Award winners, along with comments from the judges.
Deal of the Year: Vistry Group and Sigma Capital Group for their 5,000-home framework. “An outstanding partnership that sets a new standard for collaboration between housebuilders and investors, paving the way for the large-scale implementation of Single Family Rental (SFR) properties.”
Disruptor: Jenna Harris, Head of Coliving at Harris Associates. “Jenna Harris stands out as one of the most dynamic advocates in the coliving sector, employing innovative marketing strategies to enhance the visibility of coliving among institutional investors, lenders, developers, and operators.”
Best Adaptive Reuse Project: Bromley Old Town Hall, Castleforge Partners. “Once listed on the Buildings at Risk Register, Bromley Old Town Hall has been beautifully restored by Castleforge, transforming it into a boutique hotel, restaurant, and modern workspace while respecting its historical significance.”
Visionary: Ami Kotecha, Co-founder and Group President of Amro Partners. “Ami Kotecha is a visionary leader—ambitious, bold, and innovative. She is tackling the challenge of housing shortages across various tenures and asset classes by pioneering creative solutions that positively impact communities and the environment.”
Rising Star: Hannah Chappatte, Founder and CEO of Hybr. “A true entrepreneur, Hannah Chappatte established Hybr in response to her own unsatisfactory experiences in securing student housing. The concept has received enthusiastic support from students and investors alike, as evidenced by a record-breaking oversubscribed £3.24 million seed funding round for the student sector. A promising company led by an exceptional founder.”
