As a major developer and investor, Kajima has had a significant presence in the U.K. for over 30 years. Grounded in its roots as a general contractor, the Japanese giant has notably diversified over time, investing, developing and managing assets across most U.K. and European real estate markets, with over £10 billion (¥1.7 trillion) in assets under management.
Kajima’s London-based team is at the center of a pan-European platform, investing and developing across key real estate markets, such as logistics, student housing, build-to-rent, social infrastructure, renewables and regeneration. Kajima likewise acts as a third-party manager for Japanese and international partners, providing core plus and value-add strategies across the U.K. and European markets.
John Harcourt, the firm’s managing director, said: “The U.K. and London have traditionally been the jumping-off point for Japanese investors entering European markets. We’re incredibly proud of our track record, investing on behalf of our partners, and the expansion we’ve achieved across the continent.”
Key to Kajima Europe’s success is its unique blend of Japanese business ethos with the local expertise of its on-the-ground management team. Harcourt said: “It’s a winning combination. Our team is experienced at identifying the best opportunities that align with the strategies of our internal funds and those of our co-investment partners, producing double-digit returns.”
While continuing to invest on behalf of partners in sectors such as logistics, developing over 1.4 million square feet (130,000 square meters) of warehouses in Europe and investing in sustainable office buildings in London, Kajima is looking to net-zero targets for 2050, growing its presence in the renewable energy sector.
“The U.K. and countries across Europe have some of the most ambitious climate targets in the world. To date, we’ve three platforms focused solely on renewable and sustainable energy solutions — from large-scale solar plants in Europe to photovoltaic and wind energy solutions for SMEs (small and midsize enterprises),” Harcourt explained.
With the built environment contributing nearly 40% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions, Harcourt recognizes the property industry’s integral role in mitigating climate change. “At Kajima, we’re tackling the problem with a holistic approach. We’re actively contributing to the continent’s transition towards sustainable energy production and buildings by investing in clean energy solutions, hand in hand with developing new buildings and retrofitting old ones in line with best practices in construction technologies, retaining embedded carbon and whole-life consumption,” Harcourt said.
