Assura plc, the Warrington-based healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT), said on Monday it now has a portfolio of 593 properties with a current annualised rent roll of £118 million.

Assura said its net debt stood at £849 million at December 31, 2020, with undrawn facilities of £225 million.

The details came in a trading update for the third quarter of the year to December 31, 2020.

Assura CEO Jonathan Murphy said: “Assura has delivered another quarter of strong progress, as we accelerated investment spend to enhance our portfolio further and drive additional growth.

“We completed three developments, moved an additional three schemes on site, and completed 16 acquisitions for a total consideration of £89 million.

“Construction on all our new developments continues, despite the third national lockdown, to deliver new capacity for primary care around the country.

“Our experienced internal investment and development teams have continued to successfully replenish our acquisition and development pipelines, and we have a significant number of attractive new opportunities.  

“Following the £300 million issue of our first Social Bond in September, we fully repaid the secured bond due in December 2021 which completed our long-standing ambition for all financing to be on an unsecured basis.

“During these very challenging times, we continue to work closely with the NHS, clinicians and patients using our buildings, with many already acting as vaccine sites.“