Investec Bank plc (“Investec”), a leading international financial services provider, announces that its Real Estate team has provided a joint venture between a logistics fund, sponsored by CBRE Investment Management (“CBRE IM”), the global real assets management firm, and Chancerygate, the UK's largest urban logistics property developer and investment asset manager, with an £18 million senior loan for the development of a 93,000 sq ft, Grade A industrial scheme in Croydon, South London.
Called The Works, construction started on the development in March and, once complete, it will comprise three buildings subdivided into 15 units. These will range in size from c. 2,400 sq ft to c. 16,000 sq ft, with an option to combine units, ideally suited for third-party logistics and distribution occupiers.
Sustainable energy consumption is a key consideration for the project, which is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification and an EPC A+ rating as a minimum for all units. Features will include EV charging points, 76 secure cycle parking spaces and PV panels on all units, which are designed to utilise materials that maximise energy performance.
The Works is located in a predominantly industrial area to the north-west of central Croydon and ten miles south of central London. The site benefits excellent arterial connectivity via road and rail and is nine miles from Junction 7 of the M25 motorway.
This facility is Investec’s first transaction with CBRE IM while Chancerygate is a longstanding client that currently has around 1.41 million sq ft of urban logistics space under construction or ready for development at 11 sites across the UK.
A report from the Industrial Land Commission in 2022 revealed that over the last 20 years, London had lost a quarter (24 per cent) of its industrial floorspace, the equivalent to 840 football pitches. New supply within the inner M25 region remains constrained with less than two years of supply across most size bands and Grade A comprising just 40% of currently available space, despite it accounting for the majority of demand1.
Tom Griffiths at Investec, commented: “Take up for sustainable, well connected I&L space in London, where proximity to the capital’s nine million residents and one million businesses is crucial for occupiers, remains robust. With increasing competition from alternative land use, in particular new housing, squeezing new supply, the rental growth prospects for the sector remain very compelling.”
“This latest facility kickstarts an exciting new relationship with a major institutional manager in CBRE IM and furthers our strong, longstanding relationship with Chancerygate, building on the Real Estate team’s considerable track record funding best-in-class, experienced counterparties operating in the small to mid-box industrial market.”
Tom Berens, Senior Director, Team Lead Treasury & Debt Financing at CBRE IM said: "Securing this loan marks a significant milestone for our fund's growth ambitions. We are delighted to team up with Investec, further strengthening their long-term relationship with our JV partner Chancerygate. We continue to see attractive returns in the logistics sector when delivering sustainable, high quality assets in areas with constrained supply.”
Michael Treliving, chief financial officer at Chancerygate, added: “The Works is the first multi-unit urban logistics scheme to be developed in Croydon for 10 years and will help meet the region’s demand for high-quality, sustainable accommodation.
“We’re very pleased to once again have Investec’s trusted support for one of our developments. Most importantly, it further enables the ability of our partnership with CBRE IM to deliver a nationwide portfolio of much-needed urban logistics assets.”
Investec seeks to partner with clients in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions by lending to projects that contribute to a transition to a lower-carbon economy. This focus reflects the bank’s ambition to promote sustainable growth and environmental responsibility, as well as its intention to work towards its Net Zero goals by 2050. These goals are enabled through activities including sustainable and transition finance and encouraging clients to pursue decarbonisation efforts.
1 Savills – The logistics market in London and the South East – 16 January 2025
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