As a major developer and investor, Kajima has had a significant presence in the UK for over 30 years. Grounded in its roots as a general contractor, the business has notably diversified over time; investing, developing, and managing assets across most UK and European real estate markets, with over £10-bilion assets under management.
Based in London, Kajima’s European team is at the epicentre of a pan-European platform that invests and develops across key real estate markets, such as logistics, student housing, build-to-rent, social infrastructure, renewables, and regeneration. In addition to investing on its own balance sheet, Kajima acts as a third-party manager on behalf of both Japanese and international partners, investing in several core plus and value-add strategies across the UK and European markets.
The UK 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.
John Harcourt, Managing Director of Kajima Europe
John Harcourt, the firm’s Managing Director, says: “The UK 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 an on-the-ground management team that makes informed day-to-day decisions, based on local expertise. Harcourt says, “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 the business continues to invest on behalf of partners in sectors like logistics—where it has developed over 1.4 million square feet of warehouses in Europe and remains a committed investor and developer of core sustainable office buildings in London—its most recent focus is on growing its presence in the renewable energy sector, in line with 2050 Net Zero targets.
Harcourt explains, “The UK and countries across Europe have some of the most ambitious climate targets in the world. To date, we have three platforms focused solely on renewable and sustainable energy solutions. This ranges from large-scale solar plants in Europe to installing photovoltaic and wind energy solutions for SMEs.”
With the built environment contributing just under 40 percent of annual global CO2 emissions, Harcourt recognises the property industry’s integral role in mitigating climate change. “At Kajima, we are tackling the problem with a holistic approach. We are 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.”
