Restrain, a global leader in the potato storage industry, has agreed a 10-year term to lease the unit, which will become its new UK HQ. This move marks a return to the company’s roots, strengthening its presence in the UK while supporting its rapidly growing global operations. The new facility features larger, modern premises for the firm designed to optimise operations and enhance distribution efficiency as its global network continues to expand.

Rachel Cook-Coulson, Director, Restrain Company Limited, commented: “With our leadership team now based in the UK, we’re perfectly positioned to combine solid and focused expertise to support our expanding markets and global vision. The UK HQ is more than a new workspace; it’s a hub for innovation, efficiency, and collaboration that will enable us to better serve our global customer base.”

The deal completes as construction works conclude on the first phase of development at Harrogate 47, with the delivery of circa 106,000 sq. ft. of speculatively developed Grade A, flexible business units. Appointed contractor Stainforth Construction has completed two terraces of flexible business units ranging in size from 5,570-12,132 sq. ft., plus three detached units from 10,000-21,409 sq. ft. – one of which is now occupied by Restrain.

The units are situated on a 45-acre site near Harrogate at J47 of the A1(M) in North Yorkshire, which in total comprises more than 600,000 sq. ft. of employment space for industrial, logistics, hi-tech and office uses, as well as amenity uses, within a landscaped environment. Planning permission was secured from Harrogate Borough Council for the low-carbon scheme, which is targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and has the potential to support 2,000 jobs.

The next phase of construction work is due to commence shortly, which will facilitate and service the next tranche of development.

The site is close to a number of North Yorkshire towns including Harrogate, Knaresborough and York, with motorway links to access Leeds, Hull and Sheffield via the M1 and M62.

Jake Shilston, Investment Manager, Bridges Fund Management, said: “Harrogate 47 has been created to appeal to a broad spectrum of regional and national occupiers seeking sustainably designed accommodation to future-proof business operations. There are chronic shortages of new space of like this in the region, and we are seeing keen interest in the available units.”

Ryan Unsworth, Joint MD, Opus North said: “Restrain’s new UK headquarter operations are a welcome addition to Harrogate 47 and to have the deal coincide with the completion of this first phase of works is indicative of the demand for high quality, sustainably developed business units in a prime location.”

Paul Mack, Director at GV&Co Property Consultants, who negotiated the transaction, said: “We are delighted to welcome such a global name and market leader to Harrogate 47 which is in keeping with the quality of the buildings and the overall park”.

Bridges Fund Management invests in the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy. It specialises in property solutions that help to create jobs, reduce carbon emissions and regenerate brownfield land. Opus North is recognised as one of the most active and successful developers in Yorkshire, with extensive development delivery experience.

Appointed agents for Harrogate 47 are CBRE and GV&Co.

Fresh, which has been appointed to mobilise, market, lease and operate the 604-bed scheme, has fifteen years of experience in third-party management, with over 20,000 units across a range of rental living tenures currently within its remit across 27 cities and towns. Fresh currently operates over 60 student-living schemes, including one in central Edinburgh.

Mantle Yard, designed by Edinburgh-based Michael Laird Architects, is a former gasworks and naval yard being transformed into the largest private single-site student living scheme in the Scottish capital. The site’s heritage and role it played in lighting up Edinburgh when it was a gasworks inspired the name Mantle Yard; a mantle is an element of gas lights that were used across the city.

Mantle Yard is campus-style student living with six buildings around a landscaped central square and courtyard gardens, within walking distance of The Shore, in the heart of the sought-after Leith neighbourhood. Shared internal amenity spaces include study rooms, library, lounge, TV room, kitchen, gym and yoga spaces, with abundant cycle storage prioritising wellbeing and collaboration.

With construction well underway, led by McAleer & Rushe, completion is targeted ahead of the 2027/28 academic year.

Sarah Willoughby-Parsons, Head of Asset Management at HUB said:

“Mantle Yard is a truly exciting project for HUB, Bridges, HGP and Edinburgh. With demand for high-quality student accommodation continuing to grow, we’re proud to be delivering a scheme that not only meets that need but does so with ambition, design excellence, and a deep respect for the local context. Fresh brings a wealth of operational expertise, and we’re confident that it will help make Mantle Yard a thriving and well-managed community for students.”

Sam Scott, Managing Director at Fresh, said:

“We are delighted to be appointed to play a key role in bringing Mantle Yard to market. With our in-depth knowledge of the Edinburgh market and an understanding of the growing popularity of Leith, we are ideally positioned to successfully mobilise, market and operate this exciting property. Our proven track record and extensive experience in PBSA will ensure Mantle Yard is positioned for success.”

Located at 10 Wyvil Road, the development will introduce Staycity’s boutique lifestyle brand, Wilde, to the wider Vauxhall/Nine Elms area. The property will include a design-led front-of-house with publicly accessible reception, bar, co-working space, café and pantry & artisan shop, creating a vibrant destination for visitors and the local community alike. The development will have a strong focus on sustainability, including onsite solar PV, air source heat pumps and green roofing.
The transaction marks a milestone for the three companies. For Staycity, it represents a significant structured development and investment transaction by the group’s real estate development arm; while it is also the first investment by Bridges and Citygrove in partnership.

Bridges Fund Management is a specialist fund manager focused on sustainable and impact investing. Since 2012, Bridges have developed over £2bn of assets across 70+ transactions, delivering attractive investment returns alongside positive social and environmental outcomes.

Barry Hickey, Managing Director of Staycity’s real estate arm, said: “In today’s volatile real estate market, to execute a transaction of this scale and complexity represents significant success. This is one of the very few hotel development transactions in London of scale in 2025, and testament to the investment confidence in Staycity Group. It has been a pleasure to complete our first transaction with Bridges Fund Management and we look forward to others in the future.”

Adam Amijee, Investment Manager at Bridges Fund Management, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Citygrove to regenerate this derelict office building and bring it back into economic use – drawing on our extensive experience of sustainable development to deliver measurable reductions in embodied and operational carbon. We’re also excited to be working with Staycity, who not only share our focus on ESG and sustainability, but also bring best-in-class operating expertise. We’re confident that together, we will deliver a modern, sustainable aparthotel that also creates jobs and supports local economic growth.”

Staycity and Bridges extend a special thanks to Tom Fuller & all the team at Citygrove Development Service, who played a significant role in the transaction.

Tom Fuller, Development Director at Citygrove, said: “This is a fantastic endorsement of Staycity, and also Citygrove’s track record in the hotel sector. We are delighted to have secured planning consent on behalf of Staycity, and to be continuing the project to deliver a best-in-class sustainable Wilde aparthotel in partnership with Bridges.”

Addleshaw Goddard acted for Staycity in this transaction, while Taylor Wessing and JLL acted for Bridges.

Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026, with the new Wilde scheduled to open in early 2028.

Located at 45 Beech Street on the edge of the Barbican Estate, the adaptive reuse scheme will convert and extend a 1950s office building into 174 modern co-living homes, designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM).

It will be the first project in HUB and Bridges’ expanding co-living portfolio that the partners plan to build and hold, drawing on Bridges’ extensive experience of owning and operating real estate assets. In line with HUB and Bridges approach to co-living, the landmark scheme will provide the UK’s most central homes of this type and much-needed accommodation for City workers.

With strip-out of the existing building complete and enabling works underway, construction is expected to start following Gateway 2 approval. An application to the Regulator will be submitted in the coming weeks, with practical completion targeted for 2028.

To support this next phase of delivery, Firma Partners has provided a development loan for the project, with BBS Capital advising the parties in securing debt.

Sustainability is central to the project, which will reuse 90% of the existing building’s substructure and 65% of the superstructure, delivering a 34% embodied carbon saving compared to a new build scheme of a similar scale. An impressive 99.8% of materials have been recycled through the strip-out process.

Cornerstone will deliver the first professionally managed co-living homes in the City of London to support its dynamic workforce, which is one of the youngest, most highly skilled and international in the UK. In addition to 49,000 sq ft of living space, Cornerstone will offer residents 8,000 sq ft of shared amenities including co-working spaces, a gym, café, laundry, communal lounges and a roof terrace.

Cornerstone will be visually in keeping with the surrounding Barbican area and contribute to its revitalisation and activation. The location puts residents within a few minutes’ walking distance of Barbican, Farringdon and Moorgate stations, right in the heart of the City’s Culture Mile. The Elizabeth Line connection makes it a particularly attractive option for people working across London’s business districts.

Damien Sharkey, Managing Director at HUB, said: “We’re starting the year with strong momentum behind this landmark project and look forward to seeing it progress throughout 2026. Not only is Cornerstone our first co-living scheme in the City of London, but it is the first asset within our ultra-urban co-living portfolio that Bridges and HUB plan to retain beyond PC and operating. We see enormous potential in the sector and its role in shaping the future of urban living, and we are excited to see the benefits it will bring to the City of London upon completion.”

Simon Ringer, Head of Bridges Property Funds, said: “We are delighted to be undertaking this environmentally focused refurbishment project with our long-term partner HUB. Our funds have now secured positions in a platform of co-living schemes in prime locations in London, and we look forward to building these out for operation in a market that is starved of high-quality, flexible residential accommodation. By converting redundant office space to modern standards, we are also able to implement an environmental strategy that will significantly reduce carbon emissions, in accordance with our Fund objectives.”

Victor Librae, Chief Executive of Firma Partners, said: “We’re delighted to support Bridges and HUB on this landmark scheme. They are very experienced and have a strong track record. 45 Beech Street is a well-located, residential-led scheme that reflects the type of transitional, planning-led development we are set up to support. The structure of this facility has been designed to align with the realities of delivery and leasing in today’s market, while providing the sponsor with the flexibility needed to navigate the complexities of the Gateway system.”

Decarbonising real estate is essential to achieving the Paris Agreement goals. The built environment accounts for a significant share of global emissions, so the sector must play a leading role in reducing carbon.

Yet for investors, the path to decarbonisation is often unclear. Different standards and benchmarks across regions, inconsistent terminology and a lack of focus on embodied carbon make it difficult to compare assets and prioritise interventions.

Our Spectrum is designed to help navigate some of this complexity. The framework categorises assets into four levels of carbon performance, based on actual performance vs Science‑Based Targets, and provides practical steps to accelerate progress. It covers both operational and embodied carbon, ensuring a holistic approach to decarbonisation.

The ultimate aim is True Zero Buildings: assets that achieve zero emissions across the full lifecycle, without offsets. This feels ambitious today. But we believe it is achievable through greater innovation and collaboration.

Developed with insights from our investor community and industry experts, the Spectrum is intended as a starting point for change. By sharing it, we hope to encourage more dialogue, more partnerships and more action across the market.

You can read our paper on the Spectrum below – after this short explainer video featuring Bridges’ Michele Giddens, Maggie Loo and Henry Pepper.

This will be challenging, to say the least. Britain has some of the oldest, most inefficient housing stock in the developed world. And building the millions of new homes needed to tackle the housing crisis will only add to the sector’s carbon footprint.

The good news is that domestic emissions have actually been falling consistently over the last two decades, thanks to improved insulation, grid decarbonisation and warmer weather. Technologies like air source heat pumps and rooftop solar may not have had the hoped-for impact yet, but they can still play an important role in reducing emissions – as can new AI-powered developments in renewables and grid efficiency. Using these technologies to retrofit the UK’s leaky old homes would make a huge difference.

Equally, new homes are much more efficient operationally – and thanks to AI tools that also make building design and construction more efficient, coupled with advances in materials technology, we should see the embodied carbon associated with new-builds fall over time.

Critically, this is not just an environmental issue. Making our homes more energy-efficient also makes them cheaper to run, future-proofed against new regulation and better protected against climate change-related risks. That makes them more attractive to future buyers. So lower-carbon housing is not just an ecological (or even social) imperative: it’s an opportunity to create long-term economic value.

With two decades of experience spanning real estate origination, capital-raising, financing, asset management and strategic business-building, Alex joins Bridges to support the continued expansion of its property investment platform.

Prior to joining Bridges, Alex set-up the UK operations of US-based Longfellow Real Estate Partners, building the team and leading its UK activities, including the raising of £1.5bn of JV capital from Norges Bank Investment Management and PSP Investments. Before that, he spent 15 years at Brockton, a London real estate investment and development firm, investing across a wide range of sectors and real estate-backed operating platforms.

At Bridges, Alex will lead the origination and execution of property investments, working with specialist partners and the in-house sustainability team to invest in property and property-backed operating businesses that align with Bridges’ mission of delivering both attractive financial returns and positive societal impact.

Simon Ringer, Partner, Head of Property Funds at Bridges Fund Management, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Alex to the Bridges team. His deep expertise in real estate investment, combined with his strategic vision and proven track record, will strengthen our property platform and help us identify more opportunities to create economic, social and environmental value for our investors and communities.”

Alex Wright, Partner, Bridges Property Funds, added:
“I am excited to join Bridges at what feels like an important moment in its growth story. I share the firm’s ethos that real estate can be a powerful force for positive change, and I look forward to working with the team to grow the business and deploy capital in a way that delivers both financial success and better outcomes for people and the planet.”

Bridges is a specialist in sustainable property investment. Since 2010, it has now raised over £1bn of institutional capital to invest in needs-driven sectors like housing, industrial/ logistics and healthcare – with a view to delivering attractive financial returns, supporting the decarbonisation of the built environment, and improving important social outcomes.

Located on Maskew Avenue, the scheme comprises three drive throughs, a self-storage unit, nine trade counter and nine industrial and warehouse units ranging from 2,800 sq ft to 34,500 sq ft. The partnership has also announced that the entire development is now available for sale.

Leading specialist kitchen supplier Howdens Joinery has taken two trade counter units at the development.

Teka Flooring, a specialist in carpet and laminate flooring, and online tile outlet The Porcelain Store have also become new occupiers, both taking warehouse units at the scheme.

Following the latest lettings, there are four leasehold units remaining at Bourges View, comprising two trade counter and two industrial units ranging from 2,100 sq ft to 5,350 sq ft.

All properties include electric vehicle charging points and are constructed from high-performance building materials to reduce CO2 emissions, with some units also featuring solar panels.

Current occupiers at Bourges Views include trade merchants Toolstation, Wurth, Brewers, Careco and self-storage provider Shurguard. Online skincare retailer Skin Cupid and Tile Mountain Group are also based at the development.

Drive through occupiers at the scheme include Costa Coffee, fast food chain Burger King and US burger giant Wendy’s.

Chancerygate senior development director, George Dickens, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Howdens, Teka Flooring and The Porcelain Store to Bourges View, bringing the scheme to almost 90 per cent occupancy with strong interest in the remaining units as we look to sell the development.”

“The site’s strategic position to infrastructure combined with a Grade A specification is a strong testament to its success in attracting a range of occupiers. This makes it an attractive investment opportunity for any purchasers looking to add a prime urban logistics and trade counter development to their portfolio.”

The proposed 200,000 sq. ft. scheme will provide a range of high-quality units designed to meet the growing demand for modern logistics space in the South-East.

The site already benefits from outline planning consent, with a detailed planning application to be submitted later this month. Following consent, construction is scheduled to commence in Q1 2026, with completion and occupation expected later in the year.

Thanks to smart design and the use of on-site renewables, the scheme is expected to be one of the most sustainable industrial developments in the UK, targeting EPC A+ and Net Zero Carbon in Operation.

The Paddock Wood scheme will build on the combined team’s proven track record in Kent, which includes Wrenbridge and Bridges’ recent development and sale of Click Aylesford, a 300,000 sq. ft. industrial site. It will deliver much needed sustainable and flexible space for occupiers, helping to support economic growth and job creation in the region.

Stephen Gallagher, Chief Investment Officer at Gallagher Properties, commented:
“Gallagher Properties are delighted to partner with Wrenbridge and Bridges. This collaboration is built on trust and individual expertise, but with an aligned and energetic purpose. We are looking forward to delivering this exemplary scheme as ‘one team’ and welcoming many businesses to thrive and grow at the completed development.”

Jamie Garrett, Director at Wrenbridge, commented:
“We are thrilled to team up with Gallagher, alongside Bridges, to bring this site forward and continue our development experience in Kent. There is a real need for grade A product in the region, which we are excited to bring forward in this exciting JV.”

Henry Pepper, Partner at Bridges, commented:
“We’re excited to bring forward this scheme, which will provide high-quality, energy- efficient employment space for the local area. As we’ve seen already in Kent, units like these are increasingly sought-after by occupiers, because it enables to them to reduce occupational costs while also minimising their carbon footprint.”

More details on the scheme will be shared in due course.

Leasing agents; CBRE, DTRE and Watson Day

The portfolio comprises the forward acquisitions of Torque in Erdington, Birmingham and T45 in Leeds, along with the acquisition of Holbrook Park in Coventry.

The transaction forms part of Indurent’s strategy to expand its footprint in key urban logistics locations across the UK, targeting high-quality, sustainable assets with strong occupier demand.

Holbrook Park is a 255,000 sq ft development comprising 31 units ranging from 2,150 sq ft to 24,700 sq ft. The scheme, which has a 67 per cent occupancy level with major occupiers including Magdalene, Evri, Clifton Bathrooms and Kelvatek, benefits from strong ESG credentials and provides modern sustainable features.

Located on the A63 East Leeds link road within the Cross Green industrial area, T45, once complete, will comprise 23 units across 223,000 sq ft of accommodation, with units ranging from 4,450 sq ft to 32,900 sq ft. The scheme is due to reach practical completion in Q1 2026.

Torque is a 271,000 sq ft development which will comprise 22 units ranging from 4,500 sq ft to 33,000 sq ft. Located in Erdington, on the outskirts of Birmingham city centre, works at the development commenced in August 2025 and is expected to complete in Q4 2026.

T45 and Torque are targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating alongside EPC A and A+ ratings respectively.

James Cooper, Head of Investment Transactions at Indurent, commented: “This acquisition reflects our continued focus on securing high-quality, well-connected assets that support our customers’ growth. The sector’s long-term fundamentals remain strong, and we’re committed to expanding our portfolio through strategic acquisitions and development, supporting regional investment, job creation, and long-term economic growth.”

Commenting on the sale, Chancerygate senior development and transaction director, Matthew Connor, said: “This deal is an endorsement of our expertise in developing Grade A urban logistics accommodation in strategic areas with high occupier demand.

“Our products sustainability credentials, flexible sizing and proximity to key infrastructure and transport hubs continue to prove attractive to both investors and occupiers, evidenced by both this transaction and the occupational success at Holbrook.”

Henry Pepper, Partner, Property at Bridges, said “This portfolio sale reflects the growing demand for high-quality sustainable logistics space from occupiers looking to reduce costs and improve their environmental performance – which makes these extremely attractive assets for investors seeking future-proofed, long-term returns. We are delighted to complete this latest sale from the portfolio of assets we have developed with Chancerygate, which continues the strong run of exits that Bridges has been able to achieve this year.”

Bridges and Chancerygate have been working in partnership on projects for more than a decade. They are currently delivering four sustainable urban logistics developments throughout the UK and Ireland in Adlington, Cheshire, and Dublin, alongside T45 and Torque.

DTRE advised on the transaction.

Harlequin Business Park is a 90,000 sq ft sustainable urban logistics development, comprising nine leasehold Grade A units ranging from 5,100 sq ft to 39,700 sq ft. The scheme achieved practical completion in early August this year. All values relating to the transaction are undisclosed.

Situated on Southall Lane, in an established industrial location near the Beaver Industrial Estate, International Trading Estate and Western International Market, the scheme benefits from excellent road connectivity with junction three of the M4 motorway less than one mile away and four miles from the A40.

The development features electric vehicle charging points with the ability to add more based on future requirements. In addition, all properties feature air-source heat pumps and solar panels on their roofs which provide affordable green energy to run the buildings.

The units are also constructed from high-performance insulative materials with controlled air tightness which reduces CO2 emissions and increases energy efficiency. These features have enabled the scheme to achieve an EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent rating and will support it being a net zero carbon for regulated energy scheme.

Chancerygate development director, Tom Faulkner, said: “Harlequin Business Park will meet the growing demand from occupiers in the West and Greater London area for flexibly sized, high specification accommodation with strong sustainability credentials.

“Its strategic positioning near established industrial locations and key infrastructure connectivity enables occupiers to serve markets easily throughout the locality and the wider South East region.

“The sale of Harlequin Business Park to Ableprop also evidences how our product’s characteristics and strategic positioning is attractive to both investors and occupiers.”

Henry Pepper, partner at Bridges, said: “The sale of Harlequin Business Park reflects the strong demand for best-in-class, sustainable industrial units that can help occupiers reduce costs and cut emissions.

“This EPC A+, BREEAM Excellent development, with its outstanding low-carbon design and environmental performance, is another great example of Bridges and Chancerygate’s ability to identify great sites and deliver best-in-class developments that are attractive to occupiers and onward investors.”

Occupiers at Click Aylesford include Nutra Direct, a wholesale and manufacturer of sports supplements and nutrition, Fixfast, a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialist building fasteners, RVT Group, a specialist hire company, and Headline Filters, a leading UK based manufacturer. Three of the six units were let during the construction phase, while the remaining three were let within six months of the development reaching practical completion last year.

Click Aylesford sets a new standard for sustainable industrial space, delivering outstanding energy performance, lower carbon emissions, and a healthier working environment for occupiers. Thanks to a combination of smart design, solar PV and air source heat pumps, the buildings are designed to be zero emissions in operation, saving 537 tonnes of CO2 per year versus industry benchmarks. This market-leading environmental impact is reflected in the BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+ ratings achieved across the scheme.

The scheme has now been sold to DWS, a leading European asset manager with EUR 1,010bn of assets under management (as of 30 June 2025).

Jamie Garrett, Director at Wrenbridge commented: “We are delighted to complete the sale to DWS. This marks the end of a great project and is really satisfying to see the scheme full with excellent end users. It also closes out another project with Bridges within our Click Joint Venture.”

Henry Pepper, Partner at Bridges commented: “Industrial occupiers are increasingly on the look-out for highly sustainable Grade A industrial units that enable them to reduce their operating costs and improve their environmental impact. The lettings success we have enjoyed at Click Aylesford demonstrates that we have delivered a best-in-class scheme that responds to this growing demand, and we’re delighted to see that reflected in this strong exit to one of the world’s leading asset managers.”

Newmark acted on behalf of Wrenbridge and Bridges.