8 October – Housing: responding to local need – CBRE Investment Management’s focus on the UK’s residential and affordable housing

Only members with restricted access (ie. academics, asset owners, government and regulatory, independent advisers/trustees and sponsoring employers) can view this article. Please login or join to view.

The UK’s housing crisis continues to deepen, with 1.3 million households on waiting lists and annual delivery falling well short of the government’s target of 1.5 million new homes by 2030. For low-income families, access to suitable housing is hindered not just by affordability, but by systemic barriers such as benefit caps and complex eligibility rules, often resulting in decade-long waits.

This presents a compelling opportunity for institutional investors to address housing need while generating long-term, stable returns through two distinct but complementary strategies: affordable housing and single-family homes within the private rented sector (PRS).

Both strategies are further strengthened by a place-based investment approach, aligning capital with local housing needs, regeneration priorities and community outcomes. By targeting underserved geographies and engaging with local stakeholders, institutional capital can unlock housing solutions that are scalable, investable and deeply rooted in the communities they serve.

Together, affordable housing and single-family homes form a powerful platform for delivering impact and long-term value, bridging the gap between fiduciary responsibility and societal need.

This event showcased how investors can play a role in addressing the UK housing crisis while meeting their financial objectives.

Who was this event open to?

This event was open to asset owners such as pension fund trustees and in-house executives, professional trustees, investment consultants and independent advisers.

Speakers

Andrew Davey, Head of Long Income and Housing, CBRE Investment Management

Andrew oversees the Affordable Housing Fund’s investment strategy and capital deployment. As part of the UK Residential Investment vertical, he leads the implementation of strategy, sourcing and execution of UK residential transactions, with a focus upon the UK Affordable Housing Fund. Andrew joined the firm in 2018 and is also a member of the CBRE Investment Management (CBRE IM) UK Portfolio Oversight Committee.

Andrew joined CBRE IM from a UK-based private property investment manager. As part of his role, he focused on the residential development, planning, rezoning and financing of a variety of housing schemes. Prior to this, Andrew spent 10 years at Aviva Investors where he was primarily focused upon fund management, strategy and acquisitions for a range of residential and long income funds. Andrew was part of the team responsible for the launch of Aviva’s flagship Social Housing Fund and subsequently worked as its fund manager.

Andrew is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has held his Investment Management Certificate since 2007. Andrew graduated from Cass Business School at the City University in 2007 where he obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Real Estate Investment and Finance. He is a Certified Person under the FCA’s Senior Managers Certification Regime (SMCR).

Colin Thomasson, Executive Director, CBRE

Colin has 30 years’ experience in executing major real estate transactions in the UK and the USA. His core areas of responsibility include the provision of advisory services to UK and overseas clients in respect of investment sales, acquisitions, structuring joint ventures, equity raising, asset recapitalisations and development funding across all sectors of commercial real estate. Colin is lead advisor to Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

Before joining CBRE, Colin spent 18 years at DTZ, where he headed the Manchester Capital Markets team and in New York, where he was a Chief Operating Officer of DTZ’s American business.

Catriona Buckley, Senior Director - Client Solutions, CBRE Investment Management

Catriona is responsible for ensuring client engagement across UK and Irish investors, including local government pension schemes, defined contribution platforms, consultants and multi-managers.

Before joining the firm in 2023, Catriona worked at Gresham House, a specialist alternative asset manager. There, she was responsible for consultant relations as well as direct institutional sales in defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. In her role, Catriona supported capital-raising objectives across real estate, sustainable infrastructure, forestry and other real assets programs.

Previously, Catriona worked at Fidelity International, a global financial services company, where she was responsible for UK consultant relations with a particular focus on the firm’s real estate, credit and fixed income capabilities. She started her career at Allied Irish Banks in 2006, where she was part of the team responsible for managing credit securities.

Catriona earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from Trinity College Dublin. She is also a CFA charter holder and is a Certified Person under the FCA’s Senior Managers & Certification Regime.

Ben van del Tol, Director - Client Solutions, CBRE Investment Management

Ben is responsible for ensuring client and prospect engagement across the UK Defined Contribution (DC) channel.

Before joining CBRE IM in 2024, Ben was Director, Business Development at Carne Group where he was lead for the UK DC channel, which involved working with UK DC schemes and consultants. Prior to Carne Group, Ben was Head of Institutional Business and Consultant Relationships for over seven years at Investors Mutual (a Natixis affiliate) in Sydney and Director of Sales at Legg Mason Global Asset Management (now Franklin Templeton) in Melbourne. Prior to this Ben worked for ING Investment Bank in London as a Sales Trader for Emerging Market Equities.

Ben earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from the Australian National University (ANU), and a postgraduate MBA from Macquarie University. He is also a CFA and CAIA charter holder.

Host

Laasya Shekaran, Director, Pensions for Purpose 

Laasya is responsible for working with our Community, developing content and knowledge, and driving forward collaborative initiatives across the industry.   

Laasya is passionate about approaching pensions and investment with a systems lens and understanding how these sectors interact with the wider social and environmental systems they exist within.   

Laasya is a CFA charterholder with experience working with a range of asset owners as an investment adviser, with a focus on corporate defined benefit pensions. Laasya is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events, and is also an experienced podcast host, and presenter of the Pensions for Purpose podcast. Laasya is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and is particularly passionate about anti-racism activism. She has previously won the Women in Pensions and Women in Investment Rising Star awards. 

Pensions for Purpose

Pensions for Purpose exists as a bridge between asset managers, pension funds and their professional advisers, to encourage the flow of capital towards impact investment. Our aim is to empower pension funds to seek positive impact opportunities and mitigate negative impact risks.

Our Community allows members to learn from leaders in the impact investment industry. We provide a trusted environment to interact, collaborate and share knowledge. Members engage in a programme of activity to shape their strategy in ESG, sustainable and impact investments.

For more information, please email the Membership Manager.

8 October – Housing: responding to local need – CBRE Investment Management’s focus on the UK’s residential and affordable housing

Online roundtable with CBRE Investment Management

Only members with restricted access (ie. academics, asset owners, government and regulatory, independent advisers/trustees and sponsoring employers) can view this article. Please login or join to view.

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