Investment & Lending

Investors and lenders are the financial powerhouses behind the commercial real estate sector. They provide the capital to acquire, develop, redevelop, refurbish and manage commercial property. There are a wide range of investors and lenders ranging from large pension funds, to sovereign wealth, private equity and banks.

Many of these investors have developed ESG strategies for their equities portfolios and are now looking towards their real estate assets to understand the investment risks and opportunities associated with sustainability issues. Many lenders are also looking to incorporate sustainability and ESG requirements into their lending criteria.

To stimulate market transformation in this area, we have the Investment & Lending Workstream. This workstream covers our European Investments Working Group and wider activities to engage with the investment and lending community.

Investor Engagement Working Group Co-Chairs

Julie Townsend

Julie Townsend

Global Co-Head of Sustainability at PGIM Real Estate

Brett Ormrod

Brett Ormrod

Head of Sustainability, Europe, at LaSalle Investment Management

The Better Buildings Partnership’s Investor Engagement Working Group (IEWG) brings together investors, lenders, property managers, and sustainability professionals to explore how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations can be integrated across real estate investment decisions.

The group provides a collaborative space for members to share insights, discuss emerging market trends, and identify opportunities to improve ESG integration within investment processes. A key focus for the Working Group is understanding how evolving regulatory requirements, tenant expectations, and climate-related risks influence investment strategies. By facilitating dialogue between a diverse mix of stakeholders, the group helps ensure that sustainability considerations are embedded in a practical and financially informed way.

Through ongoing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and engagement across the sector, the IEWG supports the Better Buildings Partnership’s mission to promote sustainable investment practices and drive long-term value for both investors and the wider real estate market.

Highlights from the last year include:

  • Knowledge Share on ESG Reporting Challenges​

  • Updated Acquisitions Sustainability Checklist (spotlights on specific issues e.g. Adaptation, Nature, SDR, Circularity, Occupier Engagement)​

  • Annual Roundtable & Engagement​ with GRESB

Current Priorities:

  • Deliver a knowledge-sharing session on sustainability as a value driver in asset-level investment decisions
  • Convene a panel discussion at Footprint+ exploring sustainability considerations at exit
  • Host a roundtable with CRREM 
  • Facilitate a portfolio strategy session exploring capital allocation and fund-level sequencing approaches 
  • Collaborate with ULI to develop practical guidance on embedding decarbonisation within the investment process
  • Annual Roundtable with GRESB
  • Deliver a knowledge session on the role of physical climate risk and investment decisions 

“Sustainability considerations have become a a factor in a typical acquisition, and this updated Toolkit will provide greater support to, often time constrained, transactions teams and their advisors as they aim to make informed sustainability decisions.”

Brett Ormrod, Head of Sustainability, Europe, LaSalle Investment Management

European Investments Working Group Co-Chairs

Georgie Nelson

Georgie Nelson

Head of ESG, Real Estate, Aberdeen

abigail dean

Abigail Dean

Head of Strategic Insights, Nuveen Real Estate

The Group brings together members to share and discuss common challenges and solutions associated with investing in real estate across Europe. Our members have heard talks on subjects including the French Décret Tertiaire policy, the EU Taxonomy, SFDR, the EU’s proposal Social Taxonomy, and an overview of ESG regulation across Europe.

Highlights from Past Year:

  • Hosted a European ESG regulation knowledge-sharing session
  • Updated SFDR and EU Taxonomy tracker released​
  • Actively contributing to the ARESI and EREF initiatives, with outputs shared with members.​
  • Regular catchups with INREV, OID, EPRA and other key European partners leading to shared opportunities being captured

Current Priorities:

  • Establish a European regulation intelligence tracker for BBP members
  • Monitor key outputs from INREV, EPRA, OID/ESREI and EREF, providing concise updates and insights to members
  • Deliver a knowledge sharing session on key European regulatory developments, including CSRD, EPBD and SFDR reform
  • Convene a joint insight session with OID / ESREI on EU Taxonomy implementation and national evidence requirements for real estate
  • Facilitate a knowledge session exploring social value within a European real estate context