People on the Move: Pure Residential & Commercial; Peel L&P; P4 Planning; St Ann’s Hospice; Clough & Willis

Daresbury and St Asaph-based Pure Residential & Commercial has made two more senior appointments with Graham Bellis and Gary Bailey joining to strengthen its management team across the group, the third and fourth senior appointment since the COVID-19 lockdown.

Prior to joining Pure as head of operations and procurement, Graham Bellis was UK-wide procurement director at Watkin Jones for more than eight years – before this he held commercial director positions for a number of national construction companies.

As a well-known and experienced construction professional, Graham has a track record of delivering multimillion-pound developments to the highest specifications and ensuring projects are delivered on time.

At Pure Homes he will be responsible for multiple sites across Cheshire and North Wales, delivering more than 750 homes with sites in Denbigh, Prestatyn, St Asaph, Llanfair DC, Ruabon, Chester and Frodsham. This includes homes in the retirement living sector which offer exceptional growth opportunities based on projected demand and an ageing population.

Gary Bailey, new contracts manager, is a Chartered Construction Manager with more than 35 years of housing industry experience, overseeing award-winning projects, including a previous role as project director for Nakheel on one of the world’s premier projects, the villa fronds Palm Island Dubai.

His leadership will be fundamental in the delivery of Pure Homes developments nationally.

Managing director of Pure Residential and Commercial, Chris White, said: “I am really pleased to be able to welcome Graham and Gary to Pure. Their appointments are another important milestone for Pure Homes as we expand operations and respond to the needs for our quality housing across Cheshire and North Wales.

“We are in a very good position now to really progress forward with a good land bank and a construction pipeline that will deliver in excess of £160m across the business over the next few years.”

Graham Bellis said: “I’m really looking forward to supporting Pure Homes’ growth regionally as a housebuilder of exceptional standards in quality and luxury. Our new site in Chester will demonstrate how far the business has progressed over the last few years from being a local developer to being a regional house builder with a respected reputation.”

Gary Bailey said: “Pure Homes has invested in developing the business with people, land strategies and design to rival any national house builder.

“This is an exciting time to be leading the construction department and expanding the Pure Homes brand, as a leader in property development with the creation of sustainable communities and regeneration. My vision is to create exceptional places for people to live, work and enjoy.”

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Regeneration business Peel L&P has appointed its first estates director to manage its 12,000-acre rural estate and work across the business to help bring sites forward for development.

Chartered surveyor and registered valuer Rosie Wilson rejoins Peel after six years at Denbigh-based property management company Jones Peckover, where she worked as a rural surveyor across North Wales.

Prior to this she spent eight years as a land agent for Peel Holdings.

Rosie Wilson

Rosie, who is part of the National Council for the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and Welsh Advisory Committee, will implement a new triple bottom line approach to Peel L&P’s estate management with a focus on social, environmental and financial impact.

She will also support other departments to bring forward land for housing and energy projects as well as work with external landowners and farmers to look at partnership opportunities and short- and long-term uses for Peel L&P land.

Rosie said: “It’s great to return to Peel L&P and work with an exciting portfolio that is full of possibility for transformational change and I will be looking for new opportunities for our existing rural estate to contribute to this.

“I’ll also be helping to strengthen our social and environment impact across our portfolio, in particular, how we achieve natural capital as well as exploring partnerships with other estate and land owners.”

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Manchester-based P4 Planning has made two new appointments to its team.

Alexandra Gavin

The new additions further strengthen the specialist planning consultancy which has continued to operate at full strength over the past six months throughout the COVID period.

Alexandra Gavin joins from GL Hearn as an assistant planner, and Olivia Carr as a graduate, having recently completed a Masters Planning Degree at Manchester University.

Bill Davidson, director at P4, said: “We are really pleased to create new junior positions at a time when graduates have such limited opportunities and we will continue to develop our team, which is working hard to resolve a diverse range of challenges in the face of national planning reform.

“Alexandra and Olivia will provide valuable support for our colleagues and clients, ensuring we can maintain a high standard and personable client service as we continue to grow.”

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St Ann’s Hospice has announced the appointment of Rachel McMillan as its new chief executive.

Rachel, who is the organisation’s current deputy chief executive and director of clinical services, will take over the role from the current CEO, Eamonn O’Neal in October.

O’Neal will remain part of the organisation, taking on a new position as director of strategic initiatives, a role which will help to drive forward the charity’s plans for a new hospice building in Heald Green.

Rachel said: “It’s such a privilege to be taking on this role, especially as the hospice reaches its 50th anniversary next year, and enters a new chapter in its history. I’m honoured to work with such a fantastic team, and incredibly proud of the reputation St Ann’s has in our local community.

“It’s been a challenging time for the hospice, as we’ve had to adapt to continue providing specialist, personalised care to our patients throughout the pandemic, but I’m so proud that our teams have embraced the challenges that have come their way, and have proactively sought solutions that mean the very best for our patients.”

Rachel McMillan

St Ann’s, which operates from three sites in Heald Green, Little Hulton, and the Neil Cliffe Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, offers care and support to thousands of local people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses every year.

It is one of the oldest and largest hospices outside of London, and is a charity which is partially funded by the NHS with the rest of its income – around £20,000 a day – needing to be fundraised.

Prof Jackie Oldham, chair of the board at St Ann’s, said: “This is a great appointment at an exciting time for St Ann’s. Rachel brings considerable knowledge and experience to the role and we are delighted she will be leading the organisation as we enter our 50th year.”

Rachel began her career as a nurse working in Withington Hospital, and in The Christie Hospital NHS Trust, in a variety of roles, including a staff nurse, senior staff nurse, ward manager and senior nurse/modern matron.

She also worked at Marie Curie Cancer Care as nursing services manager before joining St Ann’s as director of clinical services in 2012. She has carried on the director role alongside the position of deputy chief executive, which she took on from 2016, following a period as acting chief executive in 2015/16.

Eamonn O’Neal said: “It’s been such an honour to be CEO of St Ann’s for more than four years, and I’m thrilled to be able to hand over the reins to Rachel. She is a fantastic leader, with a clear vision of the next phase of St Ann’s journey. She is perfectly placed to ensure the hospice is ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of our 50th anniversary year and beyond.”

Rachel will lead the team of more than 350 staff and 700 volunteers who support the complex business.

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Two solicitors at Clough & Willis – the Bury and Bolton based law firm – are celebrating after successfully completing two of the legal profession’s main qualifications. The firm has also recruited a new paralegal.

Rhianna Bateson, who is an associate solicitor in the private client team, has successfully completed the Society of Trust and Estate Practioners (STEP) Diploma. The Diploma is a highly prestigious industry standard that develops a practical understanding of the law and the procedures involved in trust and estate administration, tax and accounting.

Sarah Greene, who is a solicitor in the private client team, has completed the Solicitors for the Elderly qualification. Solicitors for the Elderly is an independent organisation made up of solicitors, barristers and legal executives who provide specialist legal advice to elderly and vulnerable people.

From left: Rhianna Bateson, Sarah Greene, Josh Beattie

Clough & Willis has also appointed Joshua Beattie as a paralegal in the litigation team. Joshua will be working with the department’s senior team as well as shadowing colleagues in the employment, personal injury and dispute resolution teams. He will also be studying for his Legal Practice Course part-time.

Managing partner, Lee Marston, said: “As a firm, we strongly advocate nurturing and developing talent from within, so Rhianna and Sarah’s achievements are testament to that approach.

“We are also delighted to welcome Joshua to the team who, I’m sure, will add real value to the business and our clients over the coming years.”