Australian industry superannuation fund HESTA has made its first investment in Europe鈥檚 living sector through a build-to-rent (BTR) partnership in Ireland with  Real Estate and Eagle Street Partners.

Nuveen said it has teamed up with HESTA and Eagle Street to buy a site at Castleforbes Business Park in Dublin from Glenveagh Properties for a $500m (鈧432m) BTR development.

The site 鈥 located in the city鈥檚 North Docklands 鈥 will be used for the development of up to 702 homes which is expected to complete in 2024.

The acquisition is Nuveen Real Estate鈥檚 first build to rent investment in Dublin as the investment manager seeks to increase its portfolio of living assets across Europe.

Austin Mitchell, the head of international housing at Nuveen, said: 鈥淲e are assembling a unique pipeline of strategic partnerships within Europe and Asia Pacific across the life stages of housing and in locations that offer both best relative value and best in class execution.鈥

After Spain and Japan, Greater Dublin is Nuveen鈥檚 third purpose-built for rent multifamily market outside the US, Mitchell said.

Sonya Sawtell-Rickson, HESTA鈥檚 CIO, said: 鈥淗ESTA is focused on delivering outstanding investment performance for members while having a positive impact that contributes to fairer and healthier communities.

鈥淗ousing is a key theme for HESTA in this regard. We鈥檙e excited that the development project will create jobs and economic activity, as well as improved social outcomes by increasing the supply of affordable housing.鈥

Pan-European real estate investment and asset manager Eagle Street will manage the asset as part of its Resident Space operating platform.

Justin Bickle, founder, executive chairman and CIO at Eagle Street, said the acquisition of Castleforbes represents the first deal for Eagle Street鈥檚 new Resident Space platform which 鈥渨e are determined will deliver high quality, affordable, and purpose-built modern rental product into a chronically under-supplied residential market鈥.

To read the digital edition of the latest 91传媒在线 magazine click here.