John Lewis Partnership, an employee-owned business and parent company of two cherished retail brands, and abrdn, a global investment company, agreed to form a £500m joint venture to build residential rental homes. “Our partnership with abrdn is a major milestone in our ambition to create much-needed quality residential housing in our communities. Our residents can expect homes furnished by John Lewis with first-rate service and facilities. The move underlines our commitment to build on the strength of our brands to diversify beyond retail into areas where trust really matters," Nina Bhatia, John Lewis Partnership Executive Director for Strategy and Commercial Development.