UK: Real estate investment, development, and management firm Long Harbour has agreed to forward fund 105 single-family homes (SFR) in Newhall, near Harlow, marking the first acquisition for its latest SHF fund.
The transaction follows a £300 million seed equity commitment from South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) and forms part of the fund’s £600 million initial deployment target.
The homes are being delivered by housebuilder Vistry Group and are part of the wider Newhall Masterplan, a 2,135-home scheme which also includes two community hubs, a primary school and nursery, and new public green spaces. The first homes are due for handover in April 2026.
The site is located in the Harlow Enterprise Zone, an area with strong connections which offers access to the M11 and London Stansted Airport in under 20 minutes.
The investment expands Long Harbour’s footprint in the single-family rental sector, which it first entered in 2013.
The new fund targets £1.2 billion in capital, focusing on new-build housing across the South and South East of England through forward fund, forward purchase and standing stock deals.
Jack Spearman, managing director of single-family housing at Long Harbour, said: “The fund’s first single-family housing investment will deliver much-needed new homes as part of the Newhall Masterplan, an area with great potential for future growth given its strategic location.”
Will Cazaly, investment director at Long Harbour, said: “Demand for single-family housing is at record highs, and we hope to make an impact by plugging the gap between supply and demand. Harlow offers strong fundamentals since it is an established rental market, demonstrating strong rental growth.”
Verity Macey, Vistry’s managing director for central home counties, said: “This PRS deal is the first between Vistry and Long Harbour, marking an exciting new partnership with this UK-based investment firm. This deal is a great addition to the mix of high-quality housing on offer across these phases of the development.”
Long Harbour’s single-family investments are managed by its operational arm, Way of Life, which also oversees its multifamily portfolio, including the Sessile and the Gessner in Tottenham Hale.
Highlights:
• Long Harbour’s new SFH fund makes first investment with 105-home deal in Harlow
• Fund backed by £300 million from South Korea’s National Pension Service
• Total fund target of £1.2 billion, focusing on South and South East England
• Homes part of 2,135-unit Newhall Masterplan with handovers from April 2026
