Property people: Rollits; Sky-House Co; NG Bailey; RWO

A specialist planning solicitor who has built up more than 10 years’ experience in the public and private sectors has joined the team at Rollits LLP working from the firm’s offices in York and Hull.

Stuart Lumb, who had previously worked with Knights PLC, joins the firm having spent his career in both the public and private sectors including as a planning solicitor at Calderdale Council from 2012 until 2014 and then nearly two years as senior planning solicitor with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Lumb joined Knights last year after the firm aquired Shulmans LLP.

As an Associate at Rollits he brings experience in dealing with a wide range of development issues including planning agreements, judicial review, planning enforcement, proposed lawful development and planning policy.

Ralph Gilbert, managing partner at Rollits said: “Stuart is an excellent addition to our team with the specialist knowledge of planning and development, highways and rights of way which he has built up during his career with local authorities and major firms. His experience advising landowners, developers, investors, lenders and housebuilders is a good fit with our varied case load and client base.”

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Matt Yates

Sheffield-based Sky-House Co has appointed a new head of sales and customer service, Matt Yates.

Yates is a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University who was previously property and lettings manager at SDP Student Homes.

He lives with his partner and baby daughter in one of the Sky-House Waverley properties in Sheffield, and has been recruited to enhance the Sky-House customer journey.

Director David Cross commented: “The Covid era has allowed us to restructure the business moving forward and to think and act more like a house builder than a developer.

“In just 12 months we have grown from just the two founders to a team of more than 15 people and we have a new HQ and three live projects on site, with two more planned for later this year.”

Sky-House Co’s launch development of 44 homes at Waverley is now complete and 100 per cent sold and the Sheffield based house builder now has 91 homes on site across three developments with a further 176 homes scheduled to start later this year.

Fox Valley sales in Stocksbridge have now been launched with a planned sales launch for Oughtibridge Mill in north Sheffield in May.

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John Kelly

NG Bailey, the UK’s largest engineering and services business, has appointed John Kelly as its group commercial director.

Kelly has enjoyed a long and successful career in the engineering sector and joins the business from Imtech UK & Ireland where he also held the role of group commercial director.

He previously held senior commercial leadership roles with Mercury Engineering, Laing O’Rourke Crown House and Wimpey/Tarmac/Carillion.

David Hurcomb, Chief Executive at NG Bailey said: “I am delighted to welcome John to the business. He brings a wealth of valuable experience and he will play a key role in cementing our position in the sector and maximising opportunities for further sustainable growth.”

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Lee Richley

Leeds civil and structural engineering firm RWO has made a senior appointment as it continues to invest in its workforce as part of planned strategic growth.

Lee Richley joins the Park Square-based firm as a senior structural Revit technician, bringing extensive experience of liaising with architects, subcontractor designers and other technical disciplines as well as engineering design expertise, to the role.

His key responsibilities will include working with the company’s engineers to produce Revit models and structural steelwork, concrete, masonry and timber drawings from initial concept stage through to the construction phase on a variety of projects.

RWO, which includes developers Opus North, Berkley DeVere and national housebuilders among its national and regional clients, currently employs 22 people and is targeting revenues in excess of £2m in the next 12 months.

Andrew Fairburn, director of the Leeds office, said the firm continues to recruit high calibre people to support growth and meet demand for its services.

He added: “The building and construction sector continues to require access to high quality technical expertise and resources. Our sustained investment in experienced people like Leewill ensure that we can provide top-class skills, services and support to clients now and well into the future.”