The topic of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters has been brought into sharp focus in recent times, thanks to the lessons of the pandemic, new EU regulations, and alarming emerging metrics on emissions and the impact of the built environment’s carbon footprint.

Sandrine Fauconnet, European ESG Manager recently participated in PropertyEU’s ESG roundtable where she and a panel of experts agreed that although the real estate industry has now grasped the importance of ESG, considerable action is still needed to make a difference.

The full roundtable discussion can be found by clicking here.

The global health crisis has been a stark reminder that companies need talented professionals to help them survive and thrive when unforeseen ‘black swan’ events disrupt business.

As the pandemic moves from a crisis phase into a management phase across Europe with the relaxation of restrictions, forward-thinking real estate firms are prioritising diversity and inclusion (D&I) to ‘crisis-proof’ their operations and boost performance.

Cromwell’s European Head of Capital Solutions, Danya Pollard , ESG Manager, Sandrine Fauconnet and Fund Manager, Eeva Saravuo recently spoke to PropertyEU about the importance of D&I in the real estate industry and the concrete steps Cromwell is undertaking to enable real change.

The interview can be found by clicking here.

In Cromwell’s latest briefing note, Tom Duncan and Alex Dunn from the research and investment strategy team discuss the outlook for the retail sector. Whilst it has faced challenging short-term conditions, the prospects for physical retail that has a role in an e-commerce-infused world are bright. They discuss the investment strategy implications of this and the opportunities to uncover immediate and long-term value.

The briefing note can be found by clicking here.

The enforced mass homeworking caused by the pandemic has viscerally demonstrated that in today’s tech-infused world knowledge-based ‘work’ is an action, not a place, and it need not necessarily be performed in an office. This has triggered much public debate on the purpose of offices and what future they might have. In Cromwell’s latest briefing note, Tom Duncan and Alex Dunn from the research team examines these recent events, their impact on the sector and what this means for the future role of offices and the resultant implications for occupier demand.

The briefing note applied to the European office market can be found by clicking here.

The briefing note applied to the Australian office market can be found by clicking here.

Lack of land and product, growing environmental constraints, and intense competition for plots and assets – the conditions for entering and expanding in the Dutch logistics market would appear far from ideal. Yet the droves of foreign developers and investors which have made their way to the Netherlands in recent years – and are still arriving – are evidence that there is still good business to be done. Head of Benelux, Wouter Zwetsloot recently participated in ‘The State of Logistics 2021: Logistics in the Netherlands’ panel discussion hosted by PropertyEU where he, alongside other industry experts, gave their insights why the investment case for Dutch Logistics remains rock solid.

The full article can be read here.

In Cromwell’s latest briefing note, Tom Duncan and Alex Dunn from the research team examine European inflation. Together they discuss the heightened concern regarding the inflationary outlook and the potential consequences for real estate.

The full briefing note can be found by clicking here.

PropertyEU Editor-in-Chief recently interviewed Pertti Vanhanen about Cromwell’s upcoming European initiatives along with his five strategic objectives to build upon Cromwell’s €3.7 billion AUM and increase profitability in the region.

The full interview can be found here.

Investment activity was suppressed globally in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 with the UK real estate industry facing additional uncertainty surrounding Brexit. As vaccination continues to progress and Brexit arrangements finalise, the UK market is emerging again as a great opportunity for investment.

Cromwell’s Head of UK, Matthew Bird, recently participated in the PERE: UK Roundtable 2021. Matthew discussed the appeal of the UK market and particularly London to capital investors, the deep occupational demand for logistics and light industrial assets, along with the importance of tenant needs as the country emerges from COVID-19.

The full roundtable discussion can be read here.

Logistics and industrial assets currently account for around a quarter of the portfolio of Cromwell’s funds under management in Europe, although there are interesting geographical differences. While the asset class dominates the firm’s French and German portfolios, it represents an increasingly important part of Cromwell’s Italian and Nordic business as well. Logistics Watch talks to Andrew Stacey, Head of France, Pontus Flemme-Gardsell, Head of Nordics, and Lorenzo Caroleo, Head of Italy to find out more about territorial trends and how the runaway popularity of the logistics sector requires a systematic approach to acquiring and managing assets.

Read the interview in it’s full entirety here.