Octopus Real Estate adds Investment Director to growing Affordable Housing team

By Bridging Loan Directory 10th April 2025

Octopus Real Estate, part of Octopus Investments and a leading UK specialist real estate lender and investor, is delighted to announce the appointment of Ellie Vlavianou as an Investment Director in the Affordable Housing team.

Ellie joins from L&Q, where she served as Head of New Business, overseeing the development of over 3,000 new homes.

She holds a Masters in Property Development & Planning and is a legally qualified solicitor. Her extensive background in property development and planning will be instrumental in continuing the success of the Octopus Affordable Housing Fund.

Ellie joins Peter Merchant, existing Investment Director in the Affordable Housing team, and will be reporting into Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing at Octopus.

Jack Burnham, Head of Affordable Housing, Octopus Real Estate, commented:

“Ellie brings a wealth of experience, having worked on high-profile projects such as the acquisition of Gallagher Estates and the development of Barking Riverside, one of the largest urban extensions in London.

Her impressive track record at L&Q and her expertise in affordable housing delivery will significantly enhance our capacity to build thousands of much-needed affordable homes.

Over the past year, we’ve expanded the homes we own from 12 to 400, and we’re hoping to take our funds under management to over £500m this year.

Ellie’s hire effectively doubles our bandwidth, allowing us to accelerate our deployment engine.”

Ellie Vlavianou, Investment Director – Affordable Housing, Octopus Real Estate, added:

“I am excited to join Octopus Real Estate and contribute to the team’s mission to deliver high-quality, sustainable homes for all stages of life.

The opportunity to work with such a dynamic team and help meet housing demand across the country is a compelling one.

I look forward to leveraging my experience to secure and grow our development pipeline and build long-term partnerships with developers, housing associations, and local authorities.”