A new FCA authorised residential property investment platform has just launched, focusing solely on the construction of new homes.

Homegrown will enable retail investors to access residential development projects alongside institutional investors and is targeting average net returns of 15% per annum. The minimum investment permitted is £500 per project.

The platform is only to invest in pre-vetted and fully underwritten residential developments that have already received planning permission and bank finance. Then, Homegrown is to add its own layer of due diligence, which will include analysing financial assumptions and reports, undertaking sensitivity analysis and investing in projects with developers with a strong track record.

The firm’s aim is to raise funds available to mid-size developers and to ‘democratise property investment, which historically has been restricted to high net worth and institutional investors.’

Homegrown is to focus its activities on urban areas when there is heightened demand – most predominantly in London and the South East.

Anthony Rushworth, CEO at Homegrown, said: “Homegrown is about giving everyday investors access to the often superior development returns that are typically only available to professionals and institutions. It also helps them to do their bit in solving the housing crisis by providing property developers with much needed equity finance.”