Dutch pension funds ABP and bpfBOUW have invested in 75 new-build apartments in the yet-to-be-completed De Bison housing project in Maarssen, Netherlands.

The investment is part of the Dutch Social Impact Real Estate Partnership that Bouwinvest manages on behalf of ABP. 

Given this, people who have a profession in healthcare, education, the police, the fire brigade, and construction will be given priority over the apartments. The project will focus on starter homes and one and two-person households.

The apartments are located off the A2 motorway and are 300 meters from Maarssen station. Amsterdam and Utrecht are also easy to reach from this location.

It also falls within the social and mid-rental segment, which means that around 80 per cent of the homes are rented out for less than €1,000 per month, and the remaining homes up to €1,150 per month.

Housing costs are expected to remain affordable due to having a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

ABP said affordable rental homes such as De Bison are a stable source of return and at the same time contribute to solving problems in the housing market.

The fund explained this was the reason it intended to invest around €5bn in affordable rental housing in the Netherlands by 2030.

---