How it all started

Ethical Property is a unique initiative in Ethical Investment. Formed in 1998, it provides the social change sector with the services and premises needed to grow and strengthen their operations. 

In 1982, Andrew King bought 82 Colston Street in order to house some of the many co-operatives springing up across Bristol. The first tenants were the Soil Association, now the country’s leading campaign organisation for organic food and farming and sustainable forestry, and Saferworld, the research and campaign group on armaments, now well-established in Central London.

Andrew wanted to offer his tenants reasonable rents, a benign and supportive landlord, a secure and welcoming place from which to work and the chance to share premises and resources with a range of like-minded organisations. By doing this he was to gain from a secure investment that produced a financial return as well as generating a strong social benefit.

Andrew went on to buy a further three buildings in Colston Street. The wide variety of tenants supported by his investment has made Colston Street well-known for its unique and colourful character. Jamie Hartzell began working with Andrew when they together bought 84, Colston Street in 1986. Jamie bought 1A Waterlow Road, North London in 1994. Here began in one small room the Islington Zairean Refugee Group, the alternative news video Undercurrents, now well-established in Swansea, and Squall, the newspaper of the homelessness movement.

In 1996, with the help of Triodos Bank, the Archway premises were expanded and now house 12 campaign groups or charities working on environment, development, refugee, human rights and alternative finance issues.  In 1998, after several years of research and development, Andrew and Jamie decided to form The Ethical Property Company PLC and the London and Bristol properties were transferred into the Company.

With the help of Triodos Bank and Malcolm Lynch Solicitors, a share issue was launched in May 1999. This closed in December 1999, having raised £1.72 million. The company invested these funds in setting up seven new centres in Bristol, London, Leeds and Oxford. And the rest is history!