ACCESS Pool appoints Orchard Street as Impact Real Estate manager

The ACCESS Pool – a collaboration of Central, Eastern and Southern Shires composed of 11 Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Administering Authorities, with assets totalling c. £45bn on behalf of participating pension funds, announces that it has appointed Orchard Street Investment Management (“Orchard Street”) to manage its Impact Real Estate strategy and has made an [initial] £100 million commitment.

Orchard Street will target the delivery of attractive financial returns within a formal Impact investment framework focused on the decarbonisation of buildings to deliver attractive ESG led outcomes based on measurable targets.

The £100m allocation has been committed following a competitive process, launched in July this year by Apex Investment Advisory, and follows recent allocations by the Pool to other areas of the private markets, including to Social Affordable Housing and Timber most recently

Cllr Mark Kemp-Gee, Chairman of the ACCESS Joint Committee, said “This allocation marks a key step in our ongoing initiative to diversify into the private markets. We have been impressed with Orchard Street’s history of Impact investing in commercial real estate and their leading stance on Responsible Investing.  This investment partnership will provide attractive long-term financial returns for our members alongside measurable targets to decarbonise, improve health and create social engagement with local communities with a manager that is fully aligned with all the outcomes desired by our members.”

Philip Gadsden, Manager Partner of Orchard Street added:

“This significant commitment from the ACCESS pool is testament to our strong track record of responsible investment and adds a second LPGS Pool to our stable of institutional clients, following on from the launch of the Orchard Street Social and Environmental Impact Fund with cornerstone investment from the Brunel Pension Partnership. We look forward to working closely with the ACCESS team to create a market-leading impact strategy in UK direct real estate, with the objective of accelerating the decarbonisation of existing real estate assets and creating a truly positive impact.”

Media enquiries:

ACCESS

Tavistock

accesspool@tavistock.co.uk

Orchard Street

FTI Consulting

OSIM@fticonsulting.com

Notes for Editors

About the ACCESS Pool

ACCESS (a collaboration of Central, Eastern and Southern Shires) is made of 11 LGPS Administering Authorities: Cambridgeshire County Council; East Sussex County Council; Essex County Council; Hampshire County Council; Hertfordshire County Council; Isle of Wight Council; Kent County Council; Norfolk County Council; West Northamptonshire Council; Suffolk County Council; and West Sussex County Council.

ACCESS Authorities are committed to collaborating and have each signed an Inter Authority Agreement, setting out how they will work together in response to the Governments pooling agenda across the LGPS, and to optimise benefits and efficiencies on behalf of their individual and collective stakeholders.

As at 30 June 2024, ACCESS’ pooled assets totalled £45bn.

About Orchard Street

Established in 2004, Orchard Street Investment Management LLP is a leading specialist commercial property investment manager, focused on the UK market with £2.7 billion of AUM (as at 30 June 2024). It acts on behalf of institutional clients world-wide to advise on investing in and the active management of property assets, including industrial warehouses, retail warehouses, and offices.

Orchard Street has delivered twenty years of consistent outperformance, a strong track record in executing investment programmes as well as a focus on reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency across its broader portfolio. The Company launched its inaugural Impact Fund in 2022, which focuses on decarbonisation, community investment and wellness in UK direct real estate.