PHP’s acquisition team welcomes enquiries from investors, developers, GPs, CCGs and Health service bodies.

The PHP Group is a long term investor in the healthcare property sector and is dedicated to providing modern, fit-for-purpose premises throughout the UK. We have a specialist team responsible for growing the Group’s portfolio through forward funding new property developments, sale and leaseback transactions with owners/occupiers, standing investment purchases and corporate acquisitions.

The PHP Group has a portfolio of over 500 properties 89% income government backed across the UK and is an experienced long term investor in the healthcare property sector, having first invested in 1995. Approximately 89% of the Group’s tenant base comprises either GPs, who receive rent reimbursement from the NHS, NHS Property Services Limited or other NHS bodies.

PHP is continually looking to grow its portfolio and would like to hear from:

  • medical operators or partnerships who own and occupy their existing premises and are looking to sell and lease them back or wish to relocate to new premises;
  • developers who are looking for assistance with medical property development or to fund and forward sell development opportunities; and
  • investors or agents that are selling healthcare related properties.

PHP invests in purpose-built healthcare real estate that is predominantly let to GPs or other NHS bodies or agencies. PHP also invests in other healthcare facilities, such as private medical facilities, where the majority of the underlying income of the operator is derived from the NHS.

There is a large number of existing medical and healthcare premises across the UK that are dated, no longer fit for purpose or in need of investment to bring them up to modern NHS standards. PHP has the resources to facilitate this and is experienced in funding new developments or the upgrade of existing premises.

If you are a developer looking to build a new medical centre, NHS building or healthcare property, then the PHP Group may be able to forward fund and acquire the development or simply commit to purchase your development upon completion. We can provide a flexible, cost-effective alternative to bank funding as an experienced and knowledgeable funding partner committed to the sector, providing certainty of finance and an agreed exit or sale of a project.

If you are a GP, CCG or other NHS body considering developing a new property, we are keen to hear from you too. We work with a number of specialist development partners that have a depth of experience in scoping, designing, procuring and delivering high quality healthcare properties, with the PHP Group assisting in structuring and funding your scheme.

PHP has a track record of completing sale and leaseback transactions with GPs who have sought to realise the value of their property asset or require a different ownership structure due to changes in their partnership. We are keen to work with GPs who own their buildings and are looking to sell them, either as an investment (where there are leases already in place) or on a sale and leaseback basis.

Sale and leaseback means that we will buy your medical centre and then immediately lease it back to the partners of incumbent GP practices or other owner occupiers. It enables you to retain the use of your premises on a longterm basis whilst releasing capital tied up in the property. It may also be the catalyst for fresh investment into the property where additional capital may not be available to you.

There are a number of possible benefits to you:

  • it may allow you to settle any existing debt associated with the property and release equity;
  • if there are partners that wish to retire or extract themselves from existing financial commitments, a sale and leaseback can assist the process;
  • the lease provides security for the partners over the long term, allowing you to remain in occupation and continue to operate with no disruption to your practice/business;
  • you will have rights to renew the lease at the end of the initial term; and
  • the PHP Group’s status as an REIT could also provide for the efficient and lowcost disposal of your property investment.

We have an experienced team to help you through this process, so please contact us today for a confidential discussion.

We also have specialist healthcare property management and asset management teams to assist with your day-to-day management obligations and your longer term accommodation requirements as your operations develop or change.

Meet the team

The experienced team is available to discuss your plans for the development of new premises or the disposal of your existing properties or healthcare property investments.

Tony is a Chartered Surveyor with 15 years’ experience in primary care development. Tony’s teams have delivered some 30 new premises across the South of the UK, with a particular focus on the South East and Greater London. Tony is conversant with all aspects of primary care premises development from the initial project brief right through to achieving practical completion on the premises.

Michael joined PHP PLC in July 2021 as a Senior Surveyor working within the Investment and Development team.

Prior to joining PHP PLC, Michael worked at JLL within the Living Investment and Advisory business providing advice to a range of clients on acquisitions, disposals and valuation with a particular focus on Purpose Built Student Accommodation and Affordable Housing across the UK.

Prior to Michael’s immediate past role he has had experience at JLL in City fringe investment, strategic development consulting, valuation and corporate finance.
Michael holds a BSc in Geography from the University of Exeter, MSc in Real Estate from the University of Reading and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2018.

Jack joined PHP PLC in April 2021 as a Senior Surveyor working within the Investment Team. 

Prior to joining PHP PLC, Jack worked at Colliers International within the City Investment Team advising a range of clients on acquisitions and disposals across the City of London, City Fringe and Southbank.

Jack holds a BSc in Economics,  MSc in Real Estate and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2018.

Claudia is a Chartered Surveyor with over 7 years’ experience working in primary care and other specialist property sectors including education. Claudia works within the PHP acquisitions team, whose main objective is acquiring primary health facilities across the UK and Ireland. Claudia is heavily involved in all stages of the acquisition process, and has transacted on numerous assets since joining PHP in July 2013. She has a broad acquisitions experience spanning a wide variety of transaction structures covering special purpose vehicles, standing let investments, sale and leasebacks, development fundings and large portfolio acquisitions.

Lucy joined the PHP Investment Team in February 2021 as a Graduate surveyor having previously worked at BNP Paribas Real Estate in the Occupier Solutions Team.  Lucy supports the team across sale and lease back, investment and funding transactions while also driving various business developmnet strategies and data management initiatives. 

Lucy holds a BA in Geography from the University of Exeter, MSc in Real Estate from the University of Reading and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor while working at PHP in 2022.

Development in action

Croft, West Sussex

The development at Croft, West Sussex, represents the future of sustainable primary care in the UK. PHP was appointed to develop the highly sustainable premises to consolidate and expand services locally and cater for an expected significant growth in patient numbers over the next few years.

The premises supports the national and local NHS strategies to move services away from over-stretched hospitals, providing a greater range of primary and community care services.

Currently under construction on brownfield land and due to achieve practical completion in Q3 2024. The premises will be let for 25-years to the local GP partnership and pharmacy, allowing patients and the wider primary care network to access a range of services, including general practice, mental health assessments, occupational and physiotherapy, social prescribing and training for GPs, nurses and paramedics.

The building is targeting an EPC A rating and will be PHP’s first net zero carbon development. The building is being delivered in a highly sustainable way, with materials from certified responsible sources, low carbon products, low waste and water and enhanced ecology on site. During construction, PHP has also carried out ethical labour audits and engaged with the main contractor to raise awareness of modern slavery risks.

Highlights

  • PHP’s first net zero carbon development on site
  • On-track to achieve BREEAM Excellent

Development in action

Falcon Medical Centre, London

The Falcon Medical Centre, Battersea serves over 9,000 patients in and around the Clapham Junction area of London. The purpose-built medical centre was in need of modernisation and energy efficiency improvements.

PHP designed and delivered a refurbishment to modernise and enhance clinical capacity including the creation of a new enhanced treatment suite. To minimise costs, environmental impact, waste and resource use, existing elements were retained and upgraded where possible. The existing gas boiler, installed by the tenants, was new and efficient so was retained. However, several interventions have been made to minimise the future use of gas and enable a transition away from it at a later date.

The existing but unused mechanical ventilation with heat recovery was recommissioned and upgraded and new heat recovery ventilation installed to other areas of the building. High efficiency comfort cooling units with air source heat pumps also installed in larger rooms (waiting area, reception and main administration office) providing a hybrid system for heating and cooling. The existing radiators to all clinical
areas were replaced with low surface temperature models with localised controls. All external windows and external doors have been replaced with high efficiency double glazed units, improving the thermal efficiency of the building and the lighting replaced with high efficiency LED, with smart controls.

The result was a new EPC rating of B improved from the previous D, a reduction of 80% in the EPC emissions rate (kgCO2/m2) and 74% reduction in primary energy use intensity (kWh/m2).

In addition, all floor finishes were replaced with sustainable and resilient flooring and all parts of the interior redecorated. During construction, the contractor minimised waste and diverted 100% of any waste generated away from landfill to be recycled.

Highlights

  • EPC B rating from previous D rating
  • Hybrid gas/electric heating system
  • Enhanced clinical capacity