Somerset and Dorset join LPPI as pooling deadline looms

The announcements follow the closure of the Brunel and ACCESS pools earlier this year, with affected funds required to choose alternative homes for their assets.

LPPI, created in 2016 to manage investments for Lancashire, Berkshire and the London Pensions Fund Authority, currently oversees around £22bn in assets under management. With Avon  and Devon  also recently joining, LPPI is expected to grow its asset base to more than £35bn.

A statement on the Somerset council website read: “The Somerset Pension Fund has selected Local Pensions Partnership Investments as its preferred new host pool. The decision was confirmed following a meeting of its Pension Fund Committee on 12 September 2025.”

Dorset’s pension fund is valued at more than £4bn and serves 80,000 members across 200 employers.

Councillor Andy Todd, vice-chair of the pension fund committee, said: “This is a positive step towards securing the long-term sustainability of the Dorset County Pension Fund.

“LPPI is a well-established, well-regulated investment pool with a strong track record of performance, advice, responsible investment and collaboration, and we are confident that this new partnership will deliver long-term benefits for our scheme members, their employers and the wider community.”

In a statement, Dorset said joining LPPI should enhance investment performance over time, potentially supporting lower employer contributions in the future.

While LPPI has made notable gains from the reshuffle, other pools have also emerged as big winners. Data compiled by Pensions Expert’s sister title LAPF Investments shows growth of £31bn for LGPS Central and £45bn for Border to Coast.

Several former Brunel partner funds are still to make their announcements, including the Environment Agency, Buckinghamshire, and Cornwall.