Progress is being made on our Local Plan allocation sites, along with the marketing and sale of several key projects.
Our Regional Director for the Midlands, Martyn Grimes, has been busy overseeing the marketing and disposal of four projects. Combined, these four sites will deliver over 650 dwellings – all with a policy-compliant level of affordable housing (220 homes).
Martyn has also agreed terms on a substantial site in Worcestershire which has the potential to deliver over 600 dwellings in one of the county’s higher quality housing market areas.
I am also very pleased to confirm that Joe Jones has been promoted to Land & Planning Manager for the Midlands Region. This follows Joe joining us as a graduate in 2016 with his role primarily focused on the Company’s land studies. Joe’s new role will see Joe support Martyn in the Midlands (the Company’s most active region) and take a more active role in securing new opportunities and the delivery of secured sites.
With Joe moving up to a more senior role – and the number of active projects in the Division not letting up – we have needed to secure new talent to help the Division’s growth plans. I am therefore very happy to announce that Alanna Mahoney will join as Assistant Land & Planning Manager following her recent graduation from the University of Manchester’s Planning with Real Estate course. Alanna joins on the back of her completing several notable work experiences for a developer and a niche planning consultancy. We are delighted to have Alanna on board and we have every confidence that she will thrive in her role.
Alanna will primarily be assisting Robert Mitchell (Regional Manager, South West Region) and myself in my role as Acting Regional Director for the North. She will also be helping our Planning Director, Haydn Jones with his growing workload. Haydn and Robert are working hard on key projects such as our Wimborne, Poole allocation for 650 dwellings. This is a flagship site for the company and the planning application is on target for submission in November.
Haydn is also heavily involved in one of the North Region’s latest projects – a new urban extension to the south of Ormskirk in West Lancashire. We are delighted to have been appointed by the Knowsley Estate to progress this regionally significant project through the emerging West Lancashire Local Plan Review. The site benefits from a draft allocation for circa 1,200 houses, a 15ha knowledge park, major expansion for Edge Hill University along with other major community benefits such as a new primarily school and quality new open spaces. This scheme is a notable one for the Division as it ‘puts down a flag’ for the company in the North West – and adds to our growing portfolio in the North.
In the next update I hope to be reporting on positive progress on our sales and plan promotions – with us eagerly awaiting the outcome of several key Local Plan consultations.
Until then please contact myself or the other members of the team with any opportunities or for a general catch up. We do like a pint or two…
All the best,
Jonathan Bloor – Western Divisional Director