Property people: Sheffield Housing Company; Avant Homes; and Glentrool Estates

A housing regeneration partnership which has delivered over 1,150 homes to Sheffield is increasing its workforce, with the appointment of a development manager.

With plans to build 2,300 properties on a total of 23 sites by the end of 2027, Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) – Sheffield City Council’s joint venture development company with private developer Keepmoat Homes and Great Places Housing – is seeing construction activity increase across the city.

Howard Young, 49, has joined SHC and will be responsible for managing the delivery of over 550 houses on existing live sites, as well as planning for the next phase of six sites and more than 350 homes to be brought forward over the next five years.

He brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked in architecture and both public and private sector housing, including the transformation of Kelham Island.

Young said: “Born and bred in Sheffield, I have an affinity and passion for the area, so when the opportunity arose to apply to work for SHC, I was very interested.

“Over the last few years, SHC and its partners have been responsible for delivering new, high quality, affordable housing that has enabled many to step onto the property ladder in their home city and encouraged others to move to the area.

“I am really looking forward to this role and the challenges ahead, most of which I feel will be influenced by the current economic climate, pressures on supply chain, employment and household incomes.”

Steve Birch, project director with SHC, added: “We are confident that Howard’s experience, knowledge and familiarity of Sheffield will play a pivotal part in helping to drive our projects forward.”

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Housebuilder Avant Homes has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Alastair Hart in the role of managing director for its Yorkshire region.

Hart has more than 25 years’ experience in property sales and began his career in estate agency in 1996 before moving into the housebuilding industry four years ago. He spent the last four years at Persimmon where he was sales director.

He said: “Avant Homes has some significant objectives to help meet its ambitious growth plans, and I am extremely proud to be on this expansion journey with the company as managing director for Yorkshire.

“I’m passionate about people and giving them the opportunity and support to thrive in business. The next two years will be pivotal for Avant Homes as we look to further increase our land pipeline and bring new development opportunities forward for the region.

“I am really pleased to be working alongside the Yorkshire team to guide them through this exciting growth period and to lead Avant Homes to further success.”

Based in Wakefield, Avant Homes Yorkshire currently has 10 developments under construction delivering a total of 1,300 homes stretching from Micklefield in West Yorkshire to Waverley in the south of the county.

Group managing director, Alan Hopwood, said: “With Alastair’s vast experience in sales and his commitment to developing strong departmental teams, he will be more than up to the challenge to lead the Yorkshire operation.

“His knowledge and expertise will be instrumental in driving the growth of the Yorkshire portfolio, contributing to our overall expansion ambitions.”

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Glentrool Estates Group, a Yorkshire-based property development and investment company, has strengthened its team with two new senior appointments.

Sophie Antill joins as an in-house lawyer, arriving from Leeds-based law firm DAC Beachcroft LLP.

Meanwhile, Lauren Swiers is the company’s new property investment manager, having previously worked for property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton.

Antill said: “I’m really excited to be Glentrool’s new in-house counsel. I’ll be managing all the company’s legal work, liaising with external lawyers and reporting back to the directors.

“Having worked in private practice for nearly 20 years, the main challenge is adapting to the role of the client. It is a fantastic opportunity to use my previous knowledge and experience to advise and guide Glentrool, ensuring its legal transactions run smoothly and efficiently.

“I have already been made to feel really welcome by the whole team and I’m looking forward to helping the company expand and build on its excellent work to date.”

Swiers said: “I will be covering all aspects of asset management in order to facilitate and expand the property portfolio.

“Having previously spent most of my career advising and acting for tenants I am looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges that working from a landlord’s perspective will bring. The whole Glentrool team have really welcomed me and I’m excited for this new chapter.”

Jeremy Nolan, director, added: “These are very important appointments for Glentrool. Both Sophie and Lauren have arrived at a significant time in our development, as we look to build on our success at Sherburn2 and enhance and expand our commercial property portfolio.

“So, looking ahead, we will need the best possible legal advice and an in-house lawyer is best placed to provide this.

“Sophie is perfect for this challenging and satisfying role. Our developments and income producing portfolio across Yorkshire are long-term projects, which demand the fullest commitment from all us and Sophie’s role is critical to successful delivery.

“Meanwhile Lauren, who is very highly-regarded in the Yorkshire industrial property world, is a great addition to the company.

“I know LSH are very sad to lose her, and their loss is very much our gain, as we strengthen our industrial and logistics team.”