Bouwinvest Real Estate Investor

Bouwinvest Real Estate Investors

Newsletter
February 2021

Bouwinvest takes sustainability to the next level with Paris Proof commitment and position paper

The Paris Agreement, the international treaty on climate change signed by 196 parties in December 2015, does not lack ambition with its goal ‘to work together towards a sustainable built environment with zero CO2 emissions by 2050.’ The question is: how do we put it into practice? Bouwinvest has committed to ensuring that its property portfolio meets the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement by 2045 through its endorsement of the ‘Paris Proof’ approach of the Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC). The company has now set out its strategic vision in a position paper which explains the need to move towards a sustainable environment, what this entails and, most importantly, how to get there.

Bouwinvest is one of 30 market players in the Netherlands who have joined the DGBC’s Paris Proof Commitment and are now making an effort to significantly reduce the energy consumption of their buildings and consequently their CO2 emissions. Micha Reusen, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at Bouwinvest, and Bas Jochims, Director of Dutch Office & Hotel Investments, explain how the DGBC’s campaign has inspired the company to outline its own strategic vision for a sustainable real estate portfolio and draw up a plan on how it aims to make all its assets Paris Proof.

''Making WTC Rotterdam more sustainable not only contributes to the climate goals,

but also ensures a lower energy bill.''

Bas Jochims

Director Dutch Office & Hotel Investments

Bouwinvest Dutch Office Fund nominated for GRESB/BREEAM Award for Responsible Investment for third time in a row

Bouwinvest’s Dutch Office Fund has been nominated for the GRESB/BREEAM Award for Responsible Investment for the third year in succession. The Responsible Investment Award honours real estate investors who have played a prominent role in making individual buildings or entire real estate investment funds more sustainable and will be presented at a ceremony between 23 and 25 March 2021.

The award is based on various criteria, such as the percentage of properties with BREEAM certification, the fund’s GRESB score as a measure of ESG performance and the investment manager’s commitment to sustainability. Bouwinvest’s Dutch Office Fund was awarded a GRESB 5-star ranking and declared a Global Sector Leader in 2020.

''Energy-efficient buildings retain their value and generate

higher returns, both financially and socially.''

Jan-Willem Kos

Asset Manager Dutch Office & Hotel

Bouwinvest tenant satisfaction score rises to 7.2

Bouwinvest conducts a tenant satisfaction survey every year as part of its goal to continuously improve its services. The demands and recommendations of our tenants form the starting point for our property managers and their ongoing efforts to respond fast and effectively, while providing a personal service and remaining accessible. Our efforts have again reaped results: this year our tenant satisfaction score increased from 7.0 to 7.2.

Bouwinvest adopts pensions Covenant for Internation Socially Responsible Investing

Bouwinvest is to adopt the principles set out in the Covenant for International Socially Responsible Investing (IMVB) which has been signed by 80 Dutch pension funds, including 14 of its clients representing 98% of assets under management. The IMVB provides tangible methodologies to enable pension funds to improve the way they manage the environment, climate change, human rights, labour rights and governance across the investment process.

First tenants turn on the lights in industrial-style residential lofts in Rotterdam's Manhattan-like Little Coolhaven

The very first residential tower to be completed in the New York-style Little C district in Rotterdam opened its doors to 73 residents in mid-January, marking a milestone in the development of this new neighbourhood in the Coolhaven harbour area where a mix of living, working and leisure are combined to create a dynamic ‘social buzz.’ The new tenants switched on the lights just two and a half years after the start of construction of the striking Burton Tower, which was designed by CULD architects in an industrial loft style.

The look and feel of the Little C neighbourhood arising in Coolhaven in Rotterdam's harbour area is reminiscent of the style of architecture that is so typical of New York. That is down to the use of rough brick façades, large black window frames, sturdy steel railings and footbridges connecting the buildings. The 15 residential buildings being developed in Little C will provide a total of 320 lofts and apartments, including 209 rental units and 111 owner-occupied homes. The area will also soon offer 10,000 m2 of office space and small-scale restaurants and cafes and the Daniel den Hoed Family House, a clinic caring for cancer patients, has already moved into a new space in Little C.

Until the moment they walked through the door in January, tenants’ impressions of their new homes had been based exclusively on photos and videos they had seen online. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and related lockdown measures had prevented any physical tours at the location last year, which made the actual delivery of the apartments even more exciting. Finally, the new occupiers were able to walk through their new homes, see the floor design and feel the materials used in the construction and the reactions were overwhelmingly positive.

Bouwinvest expands its portfolio with healthcare, residential and retail projects

Bouwinvest added three new developments to three of its Dutch funds in December 2020. The Healthcare Fund acquired 61 assisted living apartments in the Parledam complex in Katwijk aan Zee; Bouwinvest’s Residential Fund bought 212 apartments in the Binck Blocks tower in The Hague from the developer VORM; while the Retail Fund purchased the Schuytgraaf district shopping centre in Arnhem.

Bouwinvest invests in affordable mid-range rental housing as part of its goal to help create socially diverse neighbourhoods while generating a stable return for its shareholders. Like the Parledam project, Binck Blocks is also a perfect fit with this strategy. The Schuytgraaf shopping centre near Arnhem comprises 21 shops with a wide range of formats. The shopping centre has good accessibility, ample parking space and is within walking distance of Schuytgraaf’s train station. Almost all the retail units have the highest possible energy label and are connected to the district heating system while two of the three rooftops are clad with sedum. The Retail Fund is proud to have been able to add the Schuytgraaf shopping centre to its convenience portfolio in the current challenging market.

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