Property Appointments: CBRE; Richborough Estates; CALA Homes
Property consultant CBRE has strengthened its development and residential capital markets team in Birmingham with a new appointment.
Tony Haran, who has worked in the property sector for more than 15 years, moves from Knight Frank, where he was responsible for build to rent (PRS) and standing stock residential investment outside London.
Since 2014, Mr Haran has advised on more than £250m of residential deals, including acting for Seven Capital on the £34m forward funding of Landsdowne House; the £100m forward funded investment of Exchange Square for Nikal; the £30m disposal of 515 homes in receivership; and the £20m sale of 1,200 ground rents to a pension fund.
At CBRE he will be responsible for advising clients on residential investment and development, in particular within the emerging build to rent sector.
Adrian Willet, a senior director and head of CBRE’s five-strong development and residential capital markets team, said: “Residential stock is fast becoming a vital component of a fund’s wider investment portfolio. It’s great to have Tony on-board to advise funds and institutions at a time when the private rented sector in the Midlands is really starting to make great strides.”
***
CALA Homes has strengthened its Midlands team with the appointment of two new land directors.
The move is part of an active programme of land acquisition to support the region’s growth plans.
The Solihull-based homebuilder has promoted Dan Forrester from land manager to area land director and has recruited land director David Bignell, who previously held the same position at Morris Homes.
Mr Forrester joined CALA as a land graduate in 2012 and, over the last five years, has gained valuable experience in all aspects of land and planning as part of a rapidly-growing team. He has been instrumental in securing and delivering key sites for CALA across Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.
Mr Bignell has over 10 years’ experience in the industry and a strong track record in the acquisition and promotion of sites across the West, East and South Midlands.
CALA aims to contract around six new sites in the next 12 months to fuel its growth plans in the Midlands.
***
Charlotte Lewis
Independent strategic land promoter, Richborough Estates has strengthened its team with the appointment of Charlotte Lewis as consultant design director.
Ms Lewis, who is a chartered architect and urban designer with 17 years’ experience in residential design, regeneration and masterplanning, has joined the team on an exclusive secondment from multi-service consultancy Baily Garner.
Formerly design director at Pegasus Group, leading both small and large scale residential schemes across the UK, Ms Lewis has honed her career in architecture working with volume housebuilders and strategic land clients. Her area of expertise lies with complex greenfield sites, with recent project sites at Ludlow, Dickens Heath, Great Bowden and Aylesbury.
In her new role, Ms Lewis will be assisting Richborough Estates with its strategic projects to champion good design and placemaking.
This latest senior appointment follows a string of key hires for the Birmingham-based firm, which is continuing to grow in new regions across the UK and is playing a key role in the ongoing debate around addressing the national housing shortage.
Karl Parkinson-Witte, co-managing director for Richborough Estates, said: “As the land promotion landscape continues to evolve, we have invested heavily over the last year to ensure we have a key project team with specialist skills and experience, who can continually add value for our clients.
“As an experienced design director with a track record of securing planning consents, Charlotte will be a key player in ensuring our schemes are high quality, responsive and mutually beneficial. She will also play an important role in assisting us with our on-going commitment to involve key stakeholders and the local community in the consultative stage of our projects.”
