REMIT 20 - Retour. Insight into the importance of active travel in real estate

WHAT: Research and practical studies into how active travel decisions can be beneficial for the real estate industry

WHY: To illustrate the art of the possible and quantify costs and benefits

WHEN: 2017-2023

The connection between active travel and real estate is finally being understood and many companies are jumping on the bandwagon (or cargo bike) to improve their ESG credentials. Remit Consulting has been investing in the research and improvement of this field for over a decade and has contributed to the upward trajectory of awareness and enhancement of active travel in the built environment.

After a series of successful seminars and thought leadership activities starting in 2012, the British Council for Offices (BCO) asked Remit, in 2017, to research the impact of cycling on office buildings. This resulted in an in-depth report, Market Cycles, which showed how the rise in commuter cycling was heavily influencing the design, development and management of office buildings, demonstrating a turning of the tide for what makes offices desirable.

The report received a lot of attention from the commercial real estate market and in 2019 Remit Consulting was asked to analyse their 700-building portfolio for end-of-trip investment opportunities. Working alongside a high-profile University, Remit’s report analysed the gap between the bank’s current provision and what the future demand could look like to develop a targeted investment plan, as well as a best practice guide for active travel provision across the portfolio. It was a great example of how Remit Consulting acted as a translator between corporate business models and active travel ambitions.

In 2021, the BCO asked Remit Consulting again to research the connection between active travel and the built environment to create The Market Cycles II report expanding the findings of the 2017 project. The final report, sponsored by Lend Lease, The Crown Estate, Five at Heart, British Land and Helical, was launched in 2022 and showed that improved end-of-trip facilities were a key reason why people were returning to the office (see ReTurn) and played a role in employment decisions.

Alongside this research, Remit Consulting has continued to create opportunities for those interested in Active Travel to come together and learn. Our annual ReTour events allow leading investors and asset managers to tour newly built facilities across London, all on bikes of course. For those who find cycling a step too far, Remit Consulting has hosted webinars and in-person forums bringing together local councils, developers and investors to discuss the challenges being faced by the built environment in relation to active travel.

There is a natural connectivity between active travel and real estate, and Remit Consulting is proud to have contributed to the strides made in this space. If you would like to get involved now, we are currently mid-way through some research on the decarbonisation of deliveries, funded by the Investment Property Forum. If you want to be a part of this project or would like to know more about what we do, please contact Neil Webster.