Bridges Ventures has today announced the purchase of the first three investments by the Bridges Property Alternatives Fund (the “Fund”) which completed a first closing in April 2014 with over £120m of equity commitments from both existing and new institutional and private investors.

Totalling circa £30m of investment, these off-market transactions are focussed on emerging locations in London and in the CBD of Leeds and represent compelling investment opportunities with a strong emphasis on occupational demand, value situations and environmental sustainability.

The first two investments are in partnership with residential development specialist HUB, which shares Bridges’ ethos, aiming to make a positive contribution socially, environmentally and economically in everything they do.

Bridges Ventures specialises in using sustainability and wider social impact as a lens to identify opportunities where potential for an investment to drive social improvements as well as financial value. In the property sector, these include meeting demand for specialist properties, unlocking the potential of emerging locations, or improving the energy footprints of buildings to increase their attraction to occupiers and to future-proof value for investors.

• In Wembley, the partnership has acquired Chesterfield House for a price of circa £11m from fixed charge receivers John Barber and Tim Perkin of CBRE. The property occupies a highly prominent island site close to both the town centre and Wembley stadium.  Plans include a full redevelopment of the site to provide ground floor retail units along with 250 new homes above, comprising both private and affordable housing.

• In Hayes, the partnership has exchanged contracts to acquire part of the Old Vinyl Factory for £9m. The asset forms part of an important 18 acre regeneration site, located within 400 metres of Hayes and Harlington station which will become the primary spur for the Crossrail route linking central London to nearby Heathrow airport. The site acquired by the Fund already has planning consent for over 200 new homes with associated infrastructure and car parking and will provide high quality accommodation at affordable prices for London’s growing population.

• Finally, the Fund has completed a further transaction in Leeds with Evenacre. The Fund is investing £10m into the purchase and refurbishment of Barclays House located in a prime position in the city at East Parade. The 45,000 sq. ft. building has been acquired with vacant possession at a price substantially below replacement cost. The property lends itself to redevelopment and extension to provide environmentally efficient space for a growing number of business occupiers seeking high quality office space within the city. Evanacre is an existing joint venture partner with whom Bridges has undertaken previous successful transactions on behalf of its Sustainable Property Fund.

Simon Ringer, Partner and Head of Property Funds at Bridges Ventures, commented: “These transactions typify our investment strategy, where we seek to acquire properties at low entry prices in market sectors and locations where either demographic factors are driving growth – such as the needs-driven demand for affordably priced housing in London, or where markets are at inflection  point – such as the Leeds office market where the rate of take up of accommodation has reduced supply of Grade A space to almost zero.

“In common with many of the successful transactions undertaken on behalf of our other property funds, transactions have been sourced off market and are being implemented with joint venture partners with whom we have close working relationships and who have strong track records in niche areas. In addition to the potential for generating attractive financial returns, each project offers significant scope to provide societal benefits associated with provision of much needed lower cost housing in the capital and, in the case of Leeds, to improve the environmental footprint of business space within the city.”

Steve Sanham, Development Director at HUB, commented: “HUB is committed to developing homes that people really want to live in. By promoting people and place in our schemes, we aim to complement existing communities by creating vibrant and successful new developments in the areas we work in.

“Our partnership with Bridges Ventures, and the shared values promoted by both organisations, have led to the successful acquisition of these two sites and will see us developing nearly 500 homes to meet the established need for well designed, affordably priced, homes in London.”

-ENDS-

Press contact

Dido Laurimore
FTI Consulting
0203 727 1000
Dido.Laurimore@FTIConsulting.com

Notes to Editors

Bridges Property Alternatives Fund 

The Fund will invest either directly or in joint venture in property and property-backed operating businesses. It targets niche real estate sectors which are driven by demographic changes and consumer needs such as healthcare, education, SME business space and affordable residential accommodation, as well as other sectors where there is identifiable occupational demand in growth locations.

Bridges Ventures 

Bridges Ventures LLP (“Bridges Ventures”) is a specialist fund manager dedicated to using an impact-driven investment approach to create superior returns for both investors and society at large. Bridges Ventures manages about £460m across three types of funds: Sustainable Growth Funds, Property Funds and Social Sector Funds.

HUB

HUB is the specialist London mid-market residential developer incubated by the founders of Squarestone – Tim Barlow and Robert Sloss. It was formed with the single-minded aim of bringing quality new homes within reach of hard working Londoners.  Current residential developments across London include two sites in Hoola London in Royal Victoria Docks and Victoria Square in Acton, together comprising 512 homes.

Squarestone has a strong track record as serial real estate entrepreneurs, incubating new property businesses focused on markets where there is a demand-supply disequilibrium. Squarestone is also behind businesses including its retail developments business in Brazil, F15 – a large housing project of 640 homes, and planning for 120 homes on greenbelt land, and a London office investment portfolio.

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This press release and its contents do not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of any offer to sell any securities to US Persons.

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