Historic British landmark Formby Hall is set to undergo transformative renovation, offering unprecedented investment opportunities.The Harland & Poston Group, a Portuguese-headquartered company, has announced plans to open its newly acquired Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa to investment partnerships, granting investors access to this iconic British asset. This decision is part of the Group’s strategic initiative to enhance and expand its hospitality portfolio across the UK, capitalising on Formby Hall’s prime location, historical prestige, and growth potential.Renowned for its extensive international experience and commitment to excellence in property investment, the Harland & Poston Group entrusts HP Invest, its dedicated investment arm, with the management of all investment operations. HP Invest oversees strategic asset development, ensures the diversification of the investor base, and fosters broader participation in high-value projects.CEO David Poston said, “Opening Formby Hall to public investment represents a strategic milestone. It allows us to democratise access to prime hospitality development opportunities typically exclusive to institutional investors. This approach is transformative for our business and game-changing for investors seeking solid, secured returns in a landmark property. Additionally, we are excited to announce further projects in the UK soon, reinforcing our commitment to reshaping the hospitality landscape.”One of Britain's hospitality icons, Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa needs little introduction. With over a century of heritage, this exceptional hotel and golf resort is set within 200 picturesque acres near Liverpool. It has long been cherished by celebrities, professional golfers, and elite football teams. Its facilities include an 18-hole championship golf course, a luxurious spa, and premium dining establishments, providing strong foundations for future growth.This investment opportunity targets discerning private investors seeking secure, asset-backed returns, with minimum investment thresholds applicable. Renovations are scheduled to commence as early as 2025, significantly enhancing room quality, event venues, and dining facilities, positioning Formby Hall as a premier hospitality icon in the UK.This investment opportunity promises investors not only financial returns but also a stake in the renewal and elevation of an esteemed British landmark. The anticipated improvements are expected to have a positive impact on local tourism and economic activity, further reinforcing Harland & Poston Group’s vision for transformative and profitable property developments. 

The Harland & Poston Group has just announced the acquisition of the prestigious Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa; a landmark deal finalised on 19 December 2024. This agreement was concluded during a pivotal meeting between the Group’s founders, David Poston and Gary Harland, and the previous owners of Formby Hall.Located on England’s picturesque Sefton Coast, Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa is renowned for its exceptional amenities, championship golf courses, and luxurious hospitality. Spanning over 200 acres, this premier destination features an 18-hole Championship Golf Course, a 9-hole Woodhey Dunes Course, a state-of-the-art award-winning spa, and 76 elegantly designed guest rooms.David Poston, CEO of Harland and Poston Group, commented:"After months of negotiations it is great to finally have Formby Hall as part of our portfolio, expanding into the UK has been a priority for the group during 2024, and to have 2 fantastic assets already in place gives us a great platform for 2025. Formby Hall has a very prestigious reputation that we intend to preserve and improve upon, along with the award winning Shulte as our management team, we intend to make Formby one of the leading Golf & Hotel Resorts in the Northwest."Gary Harland, Co-Founder and CFO, added:"This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy of investing in iconic properties that offer exceptional value and potential. We look forward to introducing enhancements that will make Formby Hall an even more remarkable destination for guests and investors." The Harland and Poston Group’s acquisition marks a significant milestone in the resort’s history. Established in 1996, Formby Hall has earned a sterling reputation as a luxury retreat, hosting high-profile guests, including Taylor Swift, elite PGA golfers, and Premier League football teams. This investment underscores Harland & Poston Group’s dedication to curating world-class properties and delivering exceptional experiences.Plans are already underway to explore strategic enhancements to the resort’s offerings, ensuring its continued success as a premier destination for relaxation, sports, and corporate events.

The Harland & Poston Group has secured a wide-ranging editorial pact with IMI Daily, the specialist journal read by legislators, private-office advisers and internationally mobile investors from Vancouver to Vladivostok. The agreement confers the coveted Industry Expert appellation—a label reserved for organisations that substantiate every assertion with hard evidence and can demonstrate consistent delivery across multiple jurisdictions. In less than a decade, the Group has moved from regional upstart to an authority now invited to shape the industry’s most closely followed forum.IMI Daily is not another newsletter in a crowded inbox. Its daily briefings land on the desks of the officials who draft residency statutes, the lawyers who structure cross-border holdings, and the family offices responsible for shepherding capital through a shifting regulatory maze. To hold Industry Expert status inside this ecosystem is to gain a seat at the policy table before the ink dries on new rules.“Recognition from IMI Daily confirms that our research, client work and on-the-ground execution meet the highest bar in the market,” explained David Poston, Co-Founder and Chief Executive. “More importantly, it gives us licence to interrogate prevailing wisdom, supply context where headline numbers alone mislead, and offer readers a perspective rooted in real transactions rather than conjecture.”The collaboration is substantive rather than symbolic. The Harland & Poston Group will produce monthly columns, granular legislative digests and data-rich market deep-dives. Early commissions include a comparative analysis of European pathway reforms post-Schengen recast, a forecast of Asian liquidity into Mediterranean second-home stock, and a forensic look at the emerging ‘tech-nomad’ visa class. Each piece will combine proprietary data, first-hand fieldwork and critical commentary—precisely the blend IMI Daily’s readership has come to expect.Beyond the written word, the Group now becomes exclusive sponsor of IMI Daily’s Portugal Golden Visa portal, extending its visibility among applicants who prize transparency over sales patter. The sponsorship will double as a launch pad for exploring adjacent avenues, including the evolving Greek residency route and the newly floated Spanish reforms. Internal working groups are already distilling case studies, client testimonials and macroeconomic trendlines to feed the portal’s editorial calendar.For Harland & Poston, the tie-up neatly supports a broader communications thesis: the firm should help draft the narrative that governs capital flows and human movement, not merely transact once the regulations are set. It intends to use the platform to advocate for evidence-led policymaking, spotlight unintended consequences where they arise, and champion investor programmes that deliver reciprocal benefit to host nations.About Harland & Poston GroupFounded in Portugal in 2017, the Group operates across diversified and key industries, to ensure all of our clients' needs are met with the same degree of quality and commitment. Our operational expertise also expands to the field of hotel management and to the development and construction of our own projects, always meeting the highest industry standards. Additionally, we offer visa consultancy helping investors relocate without any hassles. The new alliance with IMI Daily marks the latest step in that trajectory—moving the conversation from boardroom to by-line, and ensuring the firm’s analysis travels as far as its capital.  About IMI DailyIMI Daily is the leading news and intelligence platform for investment-migration professionals, policy-makers and investors, offering real-time analysis, market data and expert commentary on residency and citizenship programmes worldwide. 

HP Invest secures site in Glasgow City Centre to create 1,200 new properties.The multi-phase scheme will include approximately 800 PBSA and as many as 400 BTR, Residential & Retail units across the site.  Overall, the project can feature up to 1,200 units across several buildings totalling a 50,000-square-metre build.The regeneration plan promises a greener, revitalised project in Glasgow city centre, with the site expected to be entirely electric it will offer vibrant retail along with state-of-the-art leisure facilities, whilst remaining carbon neutral. HP Invest, a forward-thinking investment firm, part of the Harland & Poston Group, has unveiled its master plan for one of the largest and most transformative mixed-use ventures in Glasgow. The Cook Street development next to the River Clyde aims to unify purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), new build-to-rent (BTR) units, Residential properties and a cluster of commercial and social amenities, as well as a park aiming to rehabilitate the region and provide its residents with a green leisure option. Pitched as the “Cook Street Urban Gardens”, the project intends to breathe fresh life into a historically overlooked outskirts of town. Designs incorporate a green oasis motif, complete with public spaces, rooftop terraces, and tree-lined walkways. By revitalising brownfield land and minimising excavation waste, the development underscores its commitment to sustainability and biodiversity enhancement. HP Invest’s Cook Street ProjectThe proposed student housing element comprises up to 800 beds, addressing Glasgow’s ongoing shortage and offering an affordable alternative for the city’s growing academic population. Another 400 residential & commercial units are planned, creating a vibrant mix of co-living, build-to-rent apartments, and conventional flats—each within an easy stroll of the city centre and the West Street and Bridge Street Subway stations. The total site covers approximately 46,487 square metres, with around 27,855 square metres dedicated to PBSA and 18,632 square metres for BTR units—reflecting a roughly 60% PBSA and 40% BTR split. However, the master plan has approval for up to 1,200 units overall, allowing the current design to expand into over 50,000-square-metre building complex. Beyond housing, Cook Street will provide new retail and leisure offerings, augmenting Tradeston’s connectivity and injecting the neighbourhood with renewed commercial energy. By aligning with regional development goals—such as the net zero carbon agenda and Glasgow’s Avenues Programme—the project aims to promote sustainable travel, reduce reliance on cars, and foster a flourishing local community. David Poston, CEO at HP Invest, said:  “Our Cook Street masterplan embodies a fresh vision for modern urban living in Glasgow. By delivering high-quality PBSA, diverse residential options, and striking green spaces, we hope to spark a meaningful transformation in Tradeston. This project will offer both affordability and aspiration, showcasing a new chapter for Glasgow’s cityscape.” About Harland & Poston GroupHP Invest is part of the Harland & Poston Group, a dynamic global investment company committed to shaping future-proof communities. With an extensive portfolio spanning from Portugal to the UK, the group's developments range from commercial, residential, hospitality, and student-centric projects. The group harnesses local insight and innovative practices to enhance each environment it touches. In supporting sustainable construction, technological innovation, and community engagement, the Harland & Poston Group remains dedicated to its mission, understanding how to recognise investment opportunities, and more importantly, knowing what it takes to bring those opportunities to fruition. 

HP Invest Announces Exclusive Investor Webinar Showcasing Strategic UK & Portugal ProjectsLisbon, Portugal – 21st August 2025HP Invest, the investment arm of the Harland & Poston Group, is pleased to announce an exclusive investor webinar on Thursday, August 28, 2025, where two of its most significant projects will be discussed at length: Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa in Merseyside, the United Kingdom Mátria Co-Working & Lifestyle Hub in Lisbon, Portugal The online event will be hosted by David Poston, CEO of the Harland & Poston Group, who will share insights into the strategic vision behind these developments, investment models tailored for high-net-worth individuals, and the Group’s broader commitment to high-yield, low-risk opportunities.“HP Invest was created to identify and deliver premium investment projects across Europe and the UK that combine resilience, tangible value, and sustainable returns. This webinar is an opportunity for investors to engage directly with our leadership and discover how these projects are positioned to outperform in their sectors,” said David Poston.About the ProjectsFormby Hall Golf Resort & Spa (UK): A Grade II listed heritage estate undergoing an ambitious renovation and expansion, designed to elevate its status as one of Northwest England’s most prestigious hospitality landmarks. Mátria Co-Working Space (Portugal): A central Lisbon development redefining premium workspace and lifestyle experiences, tapping into the growing demand for flexible working environments in Europe’s most dynamic capital.Event DetailsDate: Thursday, August 28, 2025Time: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM GMT+1Location: Online Event Registration is now open, with limited places available to ensure an interactive format. About the SpeakerDavid PostonCo-Founder & CEODavid Poston is the co-founder and CEO of the Harland & Poston Group, the umbrella company for the brands Portugal Homes, Investment Visa, and HP Invest. Since 2005, David has steered international investors through the Portuguese Real Estate industry, combining market insight with plain-spoken advice. His leadership at the Group has spawned projects from the Algarve to the UK in residential developments, co-working spaces and the hospitality sector. Renowned for fostering a business strategy focused on sustainable growth and for his client-first ethic, David continues to design bespoke investment solutions that outpace expectations.

HP Invest Hosts Exclusive UK Hotel Investment Conference at Formby Hall Golf Resort & SpaLiverpool, UK – August 21st 2025 HP Invest, the investment arm of the Harland & Poston Group, is proud to announce an exclusive investor conference on September 5th and 6th, 2025, hosted at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, one of Northwest England’s most prestigious hospitality landmarks.The event will be led by David Poston, CEO of the Harland & Poston Group, who will present HP Invest’s vision for Formby Hall’s renovation and expansion while unveiling exclusive fixed-return investment opportunities in the UK hospitality sector.A Rare UK Hotel Investment OpportunityAttendees will gain direct insights into:Formby Hall’s performance and future vision under HP Invest’s management. Revenue models and entry strategies for high-net-worth investors. The strategic role of hospitality assets in a diversified portfolio. On-site tours of the resort’s facilities, including its Championship Golf Course and award-winning Spa. Participation is strictly limited to ensure personalised engagement between attendees and HP Invest’s leadership team.Why Formby Hall?Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa combines luxury accommodation, championship golf courses, a world-class spa, and a celebrated heritage dating back to the 16th century. Its location on the Sefton Coast near Liverpool positions it at the heart of a thriving hospitality market with consistent demand from both domestic and international visitors.HP Invest’s investment model for Formby Hall has been designed to deliver:Minimum Investment: £500,000 Annual Fixed Return: 10% Term: 5 years Total Return: £250,000 (50% ROI over the investment period) Capital Protection: Investment secured against the asset.Event DetailsDates: September 5-6, 2025 Venue: Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, Liverpool, UK Spaces are limited, and participation is reserved for qualified investors.

In the shifting sands of global mobility, investors are constantly seeking new pathways — ways to tie up capital in meaningful ventures while anchoring their lives within stable jurisdictions. Occasionally, the intersection of these priorities produces something unexpected.Such is the case with Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, a quintessentially British property with long heritage, which has quietly become a conduit for European residency — not through the UK, but via Portugal.It’s an unusual route. And that’s precisely what makes it worth exploring. Formby Hall: A Tangible Asset, a Strategic Entry PointSituated just outside Liverpool and surrounded by rolling acres of greenery, Formby Hall is an icon of British hospitality. It’s a venue that has long hosted professional athletes, public figures and well-heeled guests in search of quiet luxury. With an 18-hole championship golf course, a full-service spa, and facilities primed for private events, it has held its place in the leisure market with understated distinction.Recently acquired by the Harland & Poston Group — a cross-border investment firm headquartered in Lisbon — the property is now undergoing redevelopment. Plans are in motion to refurbish guest rooms, revamp the spa and dining experience, and squarely position Formby Hall in the upper echelons of the domestic and international hospitality market.But beyond the commercial upgrade lies something else: an invitation to participate — not merely as a guest, but as an investor.Investment Meets Migration: The Portugal AngleAt the centre of this opportunity lies HP Invest, the Group’s Portuguese-based investment vehicle and Investment Visa, the brand dedicated to residency programmes. Through it, qualified investors may participate in a European business venture linked to high-quality assets — including the renowned Formby Hall.This structure meets Portugal’s D2 Entrepreneur Visa requirements, aimed at entrepreneurs with genuine business interests in the country. While activities may expand abroad, the visa is granted on the understanding that core corporate operations remain in Portugal.In this light, investing through HP Invest offers more than just a financial foothold in a premium hospitality development — it opens the door to residency within the European Union, under a framework that values enterprise, innovation, and long-term vision.How the Portuguese D2 Visa WorksApplicants to the D2 Visa programme are expected to show:Ownership in a Portuguese businessA viable business plan or record of activitySufficient financial means to support themselves in-countryAccommodation in PortugalBasic administrative requirements (NIF, bank account, etc.)Upon successful application at a Portuguese consulate, the applicant receives a four-month entry visa, during which time they must formalise their residency with AIMA (Portugal’s immigration authority). This leads to a 2-year residence permit, renewable and extendable towards permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years.Importantly, the business’s physical operations may span borders — as they do in the case of HP Invest.Why This Structure Appeals to Global InvestorsIn an age where more conventional migration pathways have narrowed, this model offers rare alignment between investor intentions and regulatory frameworks.On the one hand, it provides a tangible asset-backed investment — not a paper company, nor a synthetic fund. On the other, it unlocks residency in Portugal, a country that continues to attract international residents for its political stability, mild taxation, and quality of life.This is not a case of compliance for compliance’s sake. It’s a thoughtful structure: European legal footing, British real estate foundation, and international investor access.The Role of the Harland & Poston GroupAny structure of this kind is only as strong as the entity behind it. The Harland & Poston Group began as a modest consultancy in Portugal in 2017 and has since evolved into a €500 million multinational operator, spanning real estate, visa consultancy, hospitality development and investment advisory.Led by co-founders David Poston and Gary Harland, the Group now runs operations through a network of offices in Lisbon, Manchester, Dubai, Athens, and Hong Kong — with over 70 professionals representing 17 nationalities.Its portfolio is as diverse as it is dynamic. In Portugal, it includes Fonte Santa Resort and Portimão Hotel in the Algarve, central Lisbon’s Matria Co-working hub, and a series of premium refurbishments. In the UK, alongside Formby Hall, the Group is behind the expansive Cook Street Urban Gardens in Glasgow — a 1,200-unit and 50.000 sqm regeneration project.The Harland & Poston Group is a seasoned player with the track record and infrastructure to handle cross-jurisdictional projects of substance.Harland and Poston Group’s CEO David Poston (left) and CFO Gary Harland (right)What Investors Can ExpectInvestors in Formby Hall — via HP Invest — gain not just residency exposure, but a seat at the table of a significant hospitality redevelopment.The financial model is built around:Revenue shares from the operational uplift of Formby Hall post-refurbishmentAsset-backed security tied to a historically valued propertyD2 Visa eligibility through Portuguese corporate ownershipMinimum investment thresholds apply, and applicants are subject to standard due diligence. But there’s no need to purchase residential property, no reliance on lease-back schemes, and no commitment to physical relocation — unless, of course, one wishes to reside in Portugal.A Quiet Evolution in Investment MigrationThis hybrid model — capital invested in a UK property; residency gained through Portugal — signals a deeper trend in the investor mobility space.We’re seeing the blending of commercial logic with migration policy, where investors no longer accept suboptimal projects simply for the sake of immigration status. The expectation is shifting high-quality assets, strong management, regulatory clarity — and meaningful personal or professional benefit.In the wake of Portugal’s curtailed Golden Visa routes and the UK’s increasingly inhospitable stance on investor migration, this model provides balance. It leverages the operational reliability of British real estate with the legal openness of the Portuguese residency framework.Looking AheadFurther UK acquisitions by the Harland & Poston Group are in the pipeline, with a vision to replicating this cross-border model. In doing so, they’re building a platform that does more than shelter capital — it activates it.CEO David Poston summarised the strategy succinctly:“This approach allows us to reshape how high-value assets are opened to investors. We’re creating access, not just returns. And in doing so, we’re linking lifestyle, mobility and growth in one coherent structure.”For investors navigating today’s complex landscape, that coherence may be the most valuable commodity of all. 

As the world of investment migration evolves, traditional routes are giving way to more flexible, asset-driven frameworks. One of the more sophisticated strategies that is currently emerging involves the pairing of cross-border investment with residency planning, and Portugal is fast becoming the spotlight for this trend.At the heart of this development is the D2 Entrepreneur Visa, a lesser-known but increasingly viable alternative to Portugal’s traditional Golden Visa programme. While the Golden Visa currently relies on funds acquisition, the Portuguese D2 Visa route invites business participation — rewarding operational substance over capital presence alone.This shift opens the door for structures that engage meaningfully with business activity, while still offering the residency benefits investors seek. A recent example illustrates how this can work across jurisdictions. A European Residency Route Anchored in British AssetsIn the north-west of England lies Formby Hall, a long-established hospitality asset with over a century of heritage. Known for its 18-hole golf course and spa facilities, it has historically attracted a high-end clientele from sport, business and public life.The property was recently acquired by the Harland & Poston Group, operating the investment through HP Invest, a company incorporated in Portugal. The acquisition forms part of a wider redevelopment programme, aimed at elevating Formby Hall’s offering to meet modern leisure and high-end event demands.What’s notable here isn’t simply the asset, but the structure. Investors participating in the project do so through HP Invest, a Portuguese business, thereby fulfilling one of the primary requirements for the D2 Entrepreneur Visa.David Poston, Chief Executive of HPG, notes:“This approach allows us to reshape how high-value assets are opened to investors. We’re creating access, not just returns. And in doing so, we’re linking lifestyle, mobility and growth in one coherent structure.”Under the Portuguese immigration law, foreign nationals may qualify for a D2 visa if they establish or hold equity in a company based in Portugal. Crucially, that company is not restricted to domestic-only operations; it may hold or manage assets abroad. This detail is what makes international investment-led residency strategies viable within current EU frameworks.Why Investors Are Looking Beyond Traditional ProgrammesPortugal has long been viewed as a stable, EU-aligned jurisdiction with favourable tax policies and a high standard of living. The changes which the Golden Visa programme went through in October 2023, culminating in the end of the Real Estate investment, created a gap for those seeking EU mobility without full relocation.The D2 Visa is emerging as the response — more demanding in structure, yet also more sustainable. It requires:Ownership or executive role in a Portuguese-registered company;A feasible business plan or record of activity;Proof of financial means;Residence arrangements within Portugal;Basic administrative compliance (tax number, bank account, etc.). Once approved, the applicant receives a 2-year residence permit, renewable for successive periods, with a path to permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years. By investing through a Portuguese-based company like HP Invest, participants benefit not only from potential returns on an international hospitality asset but also from the right to reside in Portugal, and with it, easier access to the Schengen area.Here's What This New Cross-Border Model Means for the IndustryThe cross-border structure reflects a broader movement in investment migration — away from those programmes designed around simple asset transactions, and toward the ones that engage with enterprise, risk, and reward.This new model balances legal substance with commercial intent: a real business, managing real assets, with room for investor participation. For international entrepreneurs, and globally mobile individuals, it allows capital to work in multiple dimensions — financial, legal, and lifestyle.As borders tighten and compliance expectations rise, the appeal of these hybrid models will likely grow. They encourage engagement with local economies and legal systems, while preserving the global outlook modern investors require.Looking Forward with the Harland & Poston Group as a PartnerWith more investors seeking flexible routes to the EU residency — and regulators placing closer scrutiny on passive capital inflows — the Portuguese D2 Visa offers a timely alternative, rewarding those prepared to enter the market through operational alignment rather than transactional shortcuts.In partnership with Harland & Poston Group, we can connect your clients to a pathway that combines Portuguese residency prospects with competitive returns across hospitality, real estate and services. Organisations wishing to explore co-investment, distribution or advisory collaborations are invited to send enquiries to the Group’s new-business team, which is already charting the next wave of cross-border capital and residency solutions.