Avison Young invests in living sector platform with senior national appointment

Global commercial real estate advisor Avison Young has appointed Ellis Hearfield as a Director in its Place Living team to further strengthen the firm’s national transactional capability across the living sectors.

Specialising in Build to Rent (BTR) and the Private Rented Sector (PRS), Ellis brings over a decade of experience advising on residential investment and development opportunities across regional UK markets. His appointment will support the firm’s continued growth and focus on the BTR and residential investment markets.

Ellis began his career at Lambert Smith Hampton, where he spent more than five years in the Capital Markets team, with a particular focus on land acquisitions and development forward-funding transactions within the regional markets.

In 2020, Ellis joined boutique investment and leasing practice Metis Real Estate Advisors. As a Director and Head of Residential, he founded the Residential Investment department, advising on large-scale, residential-led funding and development projects, land acquisitions and disposals, and stabilised portfolio transactions across the living sector.

In his new national role at Avison Young, Ellis will bring over a decade of expertise to the firm and focus on enhancing its national Place Living offering.

Ellis Hearfield, Director, Place Living at Avison Young, said:
“Avison Young has built a strong, influential national platform across the living sectors, and I’m excited to be joining a business that is actively investing in that capability. With residential investment continuing to mature, particularly across our regional markets, there is a real opportunity to help clients navigate complexity and unlock value at scale.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with colleagues across the UK to support that growth and deliver the right outcomes for our clients.”

Helen Collins, Head of UK Living and Affordable Housing at Avison Young, added:
“Bringing Ellis on board reflects our continued focus on strengthening and deepening our national living platform. Ellis brings a proven track record of advising on complex residential investment, funding and development strategies, particularly within BTR and PRS. This complements our deep expertise in affordable housing, retirement and student housing development and investment.

“His experience will be instrumental as we continue to expand our Place Living offer, helping client deliver sustainable, viable new homes and communities as we grow our residential advisory capability across the UK.”