1. Growth
This approach drives our acquisition, investment and development decisions, creating clusters of assets in both key economic sectors and geographical regions.
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Our portfolio in the Oxford-Cambridge arc Focused on innovation, the portfolio is a collection of best-in-class offices and lab space, located in one of the most significant and fastest growing economic areas in Europe. With a strong demand for state-of-the-art laboratories in both cities, this cluster of assets help us make a significant contribution to the STEM sector to achieve a lasting positive legacy while delivering strong returns for members. |
While each individual asset is designed, developed and operated to reflect the needs of the communities of which it is part, from start-ups to established tech and science businesses, consistent across them all is our intent to serve as a catalyst and contributor to the national and regional growth agenda for the benefit of our members and beyond.
Our spaces provide a home for developing and growing UK businesses, while investments in private and public markets provide further opportunities to support growth.
2. Quality
Railpen’s focus on supporting the growth of the UK means we are committed to creating and operating assets of the highest quality. There's a ‘flight to quality’ across the real estate sector, with occupiers seeking the very best space, local and national government demanding the highest standards, and people – from consumers to office workers to residents – viewing quality as a key factor.
While our real asset portfolio is diverse, ranging from industrial parks to mixed-use developments, offices and retail, common throughout is our commitment to creating assets that set the benchmark for quality, amenity, efficiency and desirability in their sector or local market.
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Railpen’s portfolio of X-branded industrial parks These are strategically located around the M25, including Dartford and Waltham Cross, with new assets under development in South Mimms and High Wycombe and each share the same attributes, including the following:
Railpen’s X platform is being built as a brand in a way no other small to medium-sized industrial and logistics portfolio has been. ‘X’ is a signifier of a set of consistent standards that are driving demand among occupiers. |
3. Community
Creating assets that thrive and deliver the greatest economic, social and sustainable benefits and legacy can only be achieved by understanding the people that'll use it. Railpen considers in detail not only the needs and wants of occupiers, from office tenants to retailers, but also their employees and customers.
By understanding how, when and why people will use our assets, including neighbours and the local community, we can create and operate places that have a fundamental, enduring appeal because they are relevant and people feel they belong.
In turn, this can lead to greater use of the offices by staff, or increased footfall and spend in retail locations because the assets reflect the wants and needs of the people using them. Working in a great office that has relevant, useful amenities is appealing to staff and to businesses. Similarly, creating retail assets that provide for a variety of needs and wants, such that they play a role in consumers’ lifestyles, creates loyalty that drives spend.
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Caledonia Park in Scotland This is a prime example of Railpen's people-first approach. The tenant mix and amenities reflect its triple purpose as a local centre for residents living in close proximity, as an outlet destination attracting visitors from across northern England and the Scottish borders, and as a hub for motorists travelling north and south on the M74. Caledonia Park also hosts several events on-site for both brands and visitors to get involved in. This ranges from Comic Con, which was shortlisted for a REVO award in 2023, Late Night Shopping Entertainment throughout the winter months, or the X Border 10K race, (sponsored by Caledonia Park) and brings together thousands of runners at the finishing line, offering exclusive discounts to participants on the day. |
We understand that, working with our development and construction partners, we have a real opportunity to positively impact the environment and create social value. As part of our work, we dedicate significant time and resource to learning more about the communities in which we develop to provide tangible benefits for all in the form of new jobs, training opportunities, volunteering hours, and by creating more sustainable places that everyone can enjoy.
We actively and regularly engage with the local communities, gaining opinions and insights from a diverse range of residents, organisations, and other interested parties. We adopt a collaborative approach with like-minded businesses and charitable organisations as this helps us ensure that we deliver value locally, as well as for our members. Planning officers and local Councillors often cite Railpen as a model for effective stakeholder engagement.
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Community impact Our members don't retire into a pension fund, but the world and local communities around them – we consider this a dual benefit – adding value to the schemes whilst having a positive impact on our towns and cities. |
Our infrastructure investments
Railpen’s ethos is centred around providing sustainable, long-term returns for members, while having a positive impact on the world they retire into.
We focus a lot of our attention on renewable energy investments such as wind farms, solar farms, battery storage and biomass projects.
We are good stewards of our investments and look to ensure good governance, best practices, and fair treatment of stakeholders. All our investments undergo a comprehensive ESG assessment and monitoring, which is implemented early on from screening, execution, all the way through asset management and ultimately if we divest.
Our journey in this space started with our investment into lower risk operational, stable-yielding assets across commercial real estate and infrastructure. Since then, we have targeted exposure to infrastructure assets at an earlier stage, allowing us to take some development and construction risk. Part of the rationale for this is investing into assets earlier in their lifecycle, avoiding paying high operational premiums and giving the pension scheme the option to retain the assets long-term. This also targets higher returns and is focused more on partnerships rather than individual assets.
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AGR Power Our investment in AGR Power – a leading independent renewable infrastructure developer in the UK – is focused on deploying capital to support energy and food security. This investment reinforces Railpen’s commitment to invest in innovative assets that grow our members capital over the long-term as, together with AGR, we see the opportunity to drive positive change and enhance energy and food security in the UK and Europe. |
Next up: Discover our real asset investments
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