O’Shea and PLACE announce sale of affordable housing at North Acton ‘Portal’ development to Flint Housing
O’Shea, in partnership with PLACE, is pleased to announce the sale of the affordable housing at their North Acton build to rent development to Flint Housing, a for-profit registered provider of affordable homes in England.
The sale at the ‘Portal’ development comprises 63 high-quality family-sized two and three-bedroom homes incorporating the latest British Standards for fire safety, including dual cores, evacuation lifts, and pressurised smoke systems – prioritising resident safety and building quality.
The deal was made possible by grant funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) via the Affordable Homes Programme, and support from the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC).
The redevelopment of the Portal site encompasses a 36-storey landmark residential building that will create a new and exciting contribution to the local community and North Acton area. Once complete, it will deliver 350 new homes, 609 sqm of active ground floor space, a new public square and vibrant roof-top amenity spaces.
Mark O’Connor, Investment Director at PLACE, said:
“We are pleased to have secured this important sale, which provides crucial funding for the delivery of the wider 350-unit scheme at Portal. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering quality homes and supporting London’s housing needs. Traditional housing associations are going through challenging times as with the wider development and construction industry so it’s important for this new wave of affordable housing providers such as Flint to step up and enable delivery.”
Rory O’Connor, Executive Chairman at O’Shea, added:
“We are delighted to work with the first-class team at Flint in bringing forward much-needed affordable homes for London—particularly at a time of record low construction starts. Collaborations like this are vital in addressing the city’s housing challenges.”
Eugene Schreider, Chief Executive Officer at Flint Housing, commented:
“We are pleased to be forward funding 63 high quality affordable homes in this well-connected neighbourhood of North Acton. Our partnership with PLACE, O’Shea and the GLA demonstrates how coordinated effort between developers, institutional funding, local authorities and the public sector can unlock affordable housing delivery. Flint is actively working with a range of partners across London to further scale our delivery.”
O’Shea and PLACE were advised by Howard Kennedy, while Flint Housing was advised by Gowling WLG and Martin Arnold.
About O’Shea Group
Founded in 1966, O’Shea has over 58 years’ experience in construction and development and is currently involved in over £2 billion of development in the UK. Starting out as a concrete frame contractor, today it is uniquely positioned as a residential-led investor, developer, and integrated main contractor. Covering all use classes for both public and private partners, O’Shea’s private ownership and experienced management team allows it to be agile in its ability to assess and acquire opportunities and subsequently deliver the developments.
O’Shea’s vision for long term success is centred around partnership with our supply chain, development partners, and funders alike. A four-year Top Track 250 company, O’Shea continues to grow while boasting industry beating profitability and balance sheet strength.
About PLACE Group:
PLACE Group is a forward-thinking development management platform, led by Mark O’Connor and Tom Linscott. Tom joined the business in April 2023, to launch the platform, and bolster its expertise in the operational living sectors, after his 7 years at Quintain where he planned, delivered and mobilised over 2,000 BTR and PBSA units forming part of the Wembley Park regeneration. With a passion for innovation and community-driven design, PLACE is committed to shaping vibrant, sustainable urban environments.
