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Hines Europe has emerged as the leading developer in Europe based on investment volume, according to PropertyEU’s Top Developers survey.

The Houston-based company won the top spot in a weighted value ranking based on projects delivered between 2012 and 2014. In terms of completed space, Sydney-listed Goodman Group takes the lead for the fourth year running with a total of almost 2 million m2. Hines is also the leading office developer in Europe based on both investment volume and delivered space.

The weighted value ranking is based on the European average investment volume per m2 across different asset classes for 2012. Under this calculation, office development rates highest in value terms (3.7x), followed by retail (2.1x) and industrial (0.6x).

Hines has a long track record in new major master-planned development in Europe including Diagonal Mar in Barcelona, the former Renault site near Paris and the central Porta Nuova district in Milan (pictured on the cover of this magazine). Earlier this year, it announced it is now betting on the Irish capital which, after years in the doldrums, has recently become one of Europe’s fastest recovering property markets, showing both strong rental growth potential and very limited supply.

The US developer is now embarking on a new town ‘the size of Hyde Park’ in Cherrywood, South Dublin after acquiring the 390-acre site last year from receivers working for the National Asset Management Agency and a number of banks including Danske Bank and Lloyds Banking Group.

Hines has also been active in London where it recently put its Cannon Place office development in the City on the market after securing a pre-let of 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) from the Bank of London & The Middle East. Hines’ UK portfolio of assets under management includes Sixty London, 25 Cabot Square, One Westferry Circus, One Bartholomew Lane, The Centre, Livingston and Brindleyplace, Birmingham.