Tech, trees and tailwinds

In the first of a two-part series on UK infrastructure, Darryl Murphy looks back on a turbulent decade that saw bank lenders retreat only to re-emerge and a new broom of investors enter the market, as well as the demise of the PFI/PPP model.

Like other major cities, London scores highly across a range of economic metrics. But while London’s continued capacity for renewal and attracting investment is undeniably impressive, it is often in stark contrast to other UK cities. Chris Urwin, Luke Layfield and Stanley Kwong explain what can be done to make those cities more attractive, and the respective roles investors and the public sector should play in that process.

As 2019 comes to a close Vivienne Bolla and Souad Cherfouh look ahead to the key themes that will shape the European real estate markets in 2020 and beyond.

As 2019 comes to a close Jonathan Bayfield looks ahead to the key themes that will shape the UK real estate market in 2020 and beyond.

The rise of flexible working is a trend that has caught the headlines. We explain why the trend is here to stay, what it means for companies and how investors can adapt to the changing nature of the workplace.

Investors need to look past tick-box credentials to consider the real ESG impact of their infrastructure projects, says Ian Berry, head of infrastructure equity at Aviva Investors.

Today, a handful of urban centres are pulling away from their rivals – creating more innovation, more growth and more jobs. Those changes have deep implications; understanding them and what they mean for local communities takes joined-up thinking.

In our regular update on drivers in real assets, we assess the impacts of a possible downturn in the euro zone. We touch on cash generation, the valuation outlook and the significance of security and ranking in the capital structure.

The rise of the knowledge economy has energised cities which have reinvented themselves as global knowledge capitals, of which London is a prime example.

With society facing many urgent and complex challenges, deciding who is best-placed to deliver solutions has become an emotive and often political subject. We assess whether there is a better way to utilise the skills and resources of the public, private and third sectors for the greater good.

While the shape of the UK’s future relationship with its European neighbours is still unclear, the question of how to finance infrastructure fit for the 21st century is equally pressing, argues Darryl Murphy.

Assessing ESG risks within real asset investments is far from straightforward. Mark Versey and Stanley Kwong use five case studies to illustrate the balance of ESG risk factors that affects investment decision-making, beyond simply trying to be ‘green’.