A new fund investing in land sites in the South East of England has been launched with the aim of delivering an annual return of 12% a year. The fund will be targeted at sophisticated high net worth individuals and institutional investors.

The Consilium Strategic Land Fund will focus on land investment opportunities that are at the most profitable stage in their development cycle – those sites that are in the ‘change of use’, or ‘rezoning’ phase, and can be promoted to obtain a change of planning status. 

The Fund, launched by Orsini Property Limited, will target land administered by local councils in the South East that do not have a five-year housing supply, which means these sites have the potential to be accelerated through the planning process.

Joanne Luce, director of the Consilium Strategic Land Fund said: “The nation is in desperate need of new housing. In 2004, nearly 60% of 25–34 years olds were owner occupiers and now it’s just over a third. Private tenants are now on average paying £4 in every £10 they take home in rent. This situation is likely to get worse because although we are building some 150,000 homes a year, we really need around 250,000.”  

The Fund is an unregulated, eligible investors fund domiciled in Jersey with a minimum investment of $1m (£658,000).