Investec Real Estate, part of the UK and South African banking group Investec, has provided Kingsbridge with a £15.7 million senior development facility to fund the acquisition and speculative development of a logistics scheme in Horley, Surrey. The 36-month facility will deliver two Grade A industrial units totalling about 88,000 sq ft in the Gatwick logistics market.

Kingsbridge Estates is a privately owned, family-run property developer based in Tangmere, near Chichester, focused on industrial, warehouse and commercial schemes across the South of England. It reported shareholders’ funds of £46.6 million at 31 March 2025.

Investec reported adjusted operating profit of £951.0 million and operating income of £2.28 billion for the year to 31 March 2026.

The facility will finance the development of a cleared four-acre freehold site with full planning consent. The scheme comprises two units of approximately 57,000 sq ft and 31,000 sq ft, targeting an EPC rating of A+ and BREEAM Excellent certification. Plans include solar panels, electric vehicle charging points, energy-efficient building materials, natural daylighting and biodiversity improvements.

The structural driver is the flight to quality across the logistics sector. Paul Butler, chief financial officer at Kingsbridge, said, “At a time when there is a clear flight to quality across the logistics sector, we believe the scheme is well positioned to benefit from continued demand for Grade A space.”

Stephen Martin at Investec Real Estate said, “The scheme’s prime location within the Gatwick logistics market, together with its institutional-grade specification and strong sustainability credentials, positions it well to meet occupier requirements for modern, well-connected space.”

Martin added that the facility gives Kingsbridge a flexible development route to deliver the scheme on a speculative basis and supports an experienced regional developer with a strong track record in industrial and logistics across the South of England.

For the sector, the loan shows lenders backing speculative, sustainability-led logistics development in the South East on the strength of Grade A demand.

Source: The Intermediary / Companies in the UK / Sharecast