Assura PLC MSCI ESG rating upgrade and energy reduction pilot (6421S)
13 March 2023 - 6:00PM
UK Regulatory
TIDMAGR
RNS Number : 6421S
Assura PLC
13 March 2023
13 March 2023
Assura plc
MSCI ESG rating upgrade to AA and on site with energy reduction
pilot
Assura plc ("Assura"), the leading primary care property
investor and developer, today announces its MSCI ESG rating has
been upgraded to AA, recognising its significant ongoing progress
in ESG.
Additionally, Assura is pleased to announce a further ESG
milestone having moved on site with its first retrofit air source
heat pump project at its Banbury Cross Health Centre at South Bar
House, Oxfordshire.
Jonathan Murphy, CEO, said:
"We have ambitious targets to reach net zero across our
portfolio. It is therefore pleasing to see external recognition
from MSCI in upgrading our ESG rating to AA, reflecting our
commitment to incorporating ESG ambitions into our strategy and
disclosures.
"The successful pilot at Banbury Cross Health Centre marks
further progress in reaching our ambitious net zero carbon targets.
These works are one of several planned interventions to reduce both
the carbon emissions from the building and the energy bills for our
customer, demonstrating the important role that retrofitting
existing buildings will play in achieving net zero carbon across
our portfolio by 2040."
MSCI ESG rating upgraded to AA
MSCI ESG Research has upgraded Assura's ESG Ratings assessment
to AA.
MSCI ESG Research provides MSCI ESG Ratings on global public and
a few private companies on a scale of AAA (leader) to CCC
(laggard), according to exposure to industry-specific ESG risks and
the ability to manage those risks relative to peers.
Banbury retrofit project significantly reduces annual carbon
emissions
The retrofit of Banbury Cross Health Centre is an important step
in Assura achieving its ambition of being fully net zero carbon by
2040, reducing the carbon emissions by 25% on this building, in
support of the NHS's own goal of becoming the world's first net
zero healthcare system. This is a pilot project to retrofit an air
source heat pump, being the first such project since the
publication of our net zero carbon ambition. Reducing the
building's annual carbon emissions represents the model for future
retrofit projects across Assura's portfolio and demonstrates the
company's proactive approach to achieving net zero for the benefit
of its customers and the environment.
The 3,600 sq.m building, from which over 55,000 patients are
served, was added to the Assura portfolio in 2006. As well as
adding 10 years to the remaining lease term, the completion of the
project is expected to see the EPC rating improve to B. In addition
to the air source heat pump, the lighting has been upgraded to LED
throughout and the project will be completed in the coming weeks by
the installation of 175 photo-voltaic panels which will generate
circa 58,000 kWh.
- ENDS -
Assura plc Tel: 01925 945354
David Purcell, Investor Relations E mail: Investor@assura.co.uk
Director
FGS Global Tel: 0207 251 3801
Gordon Simpson Email: Assura@fgsglobal.com
James Thompson
Notes to Editors
Assura plc is a national healthcare premises specialist and UK
REIT based in Warrington, UK - caring for more than 600 primary
healthcare buildings, from which almost seven million patients are
served.
A constituent of the FTSE 250 and the EPRA* indices, as at 31
December 2022, Assura's portfolio was valued at GBP2.7 billion.
At Assura, we BUILD for health. Assura builds better spaces for
people and places, invests in skills and inspires new ways of
working, and unlocks the power of design and innovation to deliver
lasting impact for communities - aiming for six million people to
have benefitted from improvements to and through its healthcare
buildings by 2026.
Assura is leading for a sustainable future, targeting net zero
carbon across its portfolio by 2040.
Further information is available at www.assuraplc.com
Assura plc LEI code: 21380026T19N2Y52XF72
*EPRA is a registered trademark of the European Public Real
Estate Association.
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END
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