Automated Architecture (AUAR) winner of ULI’s PropTech Innovation Challenge 2025  

Press Release, 1 December 2025. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has announced that Automated Architecture (AUAR), a technology company that has developed a platform for automated construction of sustainable and affordable timber frame housing, has been named the overall winner of the PropTech Innovation Challenge (PIC) European Final 2025 following their win in the UK & Ireland round of the coveted challenge.             

Now in its third year, PIC is a ULI Europe Young Leaders-led initiative designed to foster innovation in the built environment. This year’s challenge, which reflects ULI’s mission priorities, the core pillars of C Change, and particularly the C Change for Housing programme, focused on finding the innovative, scalable, tangible solutions needed to decarbonise affordable housing, with entries assessed according to their potential impact, innovation scalability and likelihood of adoption by the jury.

Following in-country competitions held over the summer, the European Grand Final brought together eight diverse in-country winners to compete for the overall prize, including Green Fusion (Germany), Zenova, (Iberia – Spain & Portugal), Coat-ing (the Nordics), aloHOMora coliving(France), Automated Architecture (UK & Ireland), IZODOM (Poland and Czech Republic), vyzn (Switzerland), and 2025 Materials Limited(Greece & Cyprus) to pitch their solutions to the expert PIC jury.

Automated Architecture was subsequently declared the overall European Grand Final Winner by the jury. The tech company founded in 2022, uses data-driven learning and generative design in its automated construction platform, deploying a decentralised robotic micro-factory network to deliver sustainable timber housing at scale.

In addition, both Coat-ing and alohomora received special mentions from the jury for their innovative products that are demonstrating very strong potential in advancing sustainability in affordable housing. 

Mollie Claypool, (Pictured centre) Co-Founder and CEO, Automated Architecture, comments, “Winning the PropTech Innovation Challenge is an incredible recognition of AUAR’s vision to transform how we build homes and cities. It reinforces our belief that automation and technology can drive not just efficiency, but also sustainability and equity in homebuilding. For our team, this award is validation that the future of housing lies in empowering communities through our accessible, no-CapEx micro-factories.”

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Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR

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Banking facility will make it easier and more cost-effective for TPFG franchisees to access funding 

The Property Franchise Group (TPFG), one the UK’s largest property franchisors, has announced the launch of a new bespoke lending facility, created with Barclays. This initiative will make it easier and more cost-effective for TPFG franchisees to access funding, empowering them to accelerate business growth through acquisitions and refinance existing debt on more favourable terms.

This initiative directly addresses the historical challenges franchisees have faced in securing accessible and cost-effective funding. By leveraging the scale and strength of the Group, TPFG has been able to work closely with Barclays to create a tailored facility designed specifically to meet the needs and entrepreneurial ambitions of its franchise network.

The new lending facility offers TPFG franchisees a clear and advantageous path to financing, with key benefits including:

• Access to lending of up to £1.25m subject to standard lending criteria, to support substantial growth plans.
• Funds can be used for new business acquisitions or to refinance existing loans, with up to 70% Loan-to-Value (LTV) available.
• Competitive pricing.
• The facility is available to all franchisees across The Property Franchise Group’s national network.

The bespoke pathway for accessing lending was successfully piloted with a number of franchisees from April this year, demonstrating its effectiveness and appeal. The success was broadly split between funding for new acquisitions and refinancing existing arrangements, including franchisor-provided loans.

Ben Dodds, Chief Financial Officer of The Property Franchise Group, commented on the deal’s significance: “We know that access to the right funding has historically been a challenge for our franchisees, often limiting opportunities to expand their businesses. Working with Barclays on this bespoke pathway represents a significant step forward – using the strength and scale of our Group to deliver real financial advantages for our network. We are delighted to now be able to roll out this facility to all franchisees, helping them to pursue acquisitions, refinance existing debt and ultimately accelerate their growth.”

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Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR

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Octopus Capital & Vistry to deliver affordable homes in North Devon

Octopus Capital, a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor, has agreed a forward funding deal to support the delivery of 82 new affordable homes across Northam and Bideford in North Devon. The investment for the homes has been made through the Octopus Affordable Housing Fund (OAHF), which invests long-term capital to accelerate the delivery and ownership of essential new affordable homes across the UK.

The scheme has also received grant funding from Homes England, the government’s housing agency. This means that all the homes will be delivered as affordable housing, converting what would have been private sale homes into a mix of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership. This mix of tenures aims to provide choice for all parts of the community. The homes are being delivered in partnership with Vistry, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders.

This deal marks the continuation of their relationship with Octopus Capital and forms part of a wider pipeline they’re progressing together, as they look to develop a longer-term investment framework to fund the delivery of more affordable homes nationally. The scheme comprises of 238 beds across the 82 high-quality, energy-efficient homes, with all homes meeting EPC B and being fossil fuel free, with the energy provided through air source heat pumps. The homes range from two to four bedrooms, which allows the scheme to cater to couples as well as growing families.

Octopus Capital will be working closely in partnership with Torridge District Council to advertise the rented homes through Devon Home Choice, the platform that allocates social housing in the area. This means that priority will be given to applicants with a connection to the area, helping to ensure that these homes directly support the needs of the North Devon community.

The homes are being delivered on a freehold basis with construction already underway. The first homes are due to complete in Spring 2026 with the final homes expected by Summer 2027. NewArch, the Octopus-owned registered provider of social housing, will be the long-term landlord for the homes, with housing management provided by Pinnacle once construction is complete.

Ellie Vlavianou, Investment Director at Octopus Capital, said: “These are two fantastic sites that will create real opportunities for people and families to put down roots in their local community. We’re very proud to be working with trusted partners to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes where they’re needed most. We’re also excited about the potential to grow our partnership with Vistry as we both look forward to delivering more schemes like this across the country.”

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Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR

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