Over the winter period we are hoping to see progress on a number of sites across the Western Division.
The run-up to Christmas was a particularly busy one for the Western Division and things haven’t let up as the first month of 2019 draws to a close with new recruits, new sales and new sites to report on.
The New Year brings a new recruit to the Division with Harry Jackson transferring from his position in the Company’s East Region to take on a new role as Regional Manager of our North Region.
Harry, with the support of our Assistant Land & Planning Manager, Alanna Mahoney is looking to secure new opportunities for the company in what is a varied and large geographical area. His main focus is on the housing market areas of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and York. However, we are keen to consider markets as far afield as Lancaster and the North-East so any opportunities that people may have in these areas then please get in touch with Harry (contact details and his patch-map below). He’s also keen to arrange a coffee (more likely a beer!) with any of our agents, consultants or housebuilder readers out there – and we are soon to announce a series of events in the North Region, focused around Leeds and Manchester – that will coincide with Harry’s new role.
Further south, in our Midlands Region, Martyn Grimes (Regional Director) has been managing multiple key projects for the business – including the recent sale of land at Beggars Bush Lane, Wombourne, South Staffordshire, to Bovis Homes. The site will deliver 90 homes in what is highly-regarded location. Martyn, with support from Joe Jones (Land & Planning Manager) – has worked tirelessly to secure this sale in record time following what was a very competitive marketing exercise (managed by Phil McConnachie of Griffin Land). Needless to say that the team at Bovis Homes’ Mercia region were extremely diligent and very straightforward to deal with.
The start to the year has also brought the good news that our site in Hampton Magna, Warwick District, has been recommended for approval at the forthcoming (29th January) Planning Committee. So, it’s fingers crossed that our scheme for 131 dwellings is approved on the night as we are proposing to market the site in February with a view to securing a preferred party by the Spring. Please contact Martyn or me if you are interested in the site.
Further south, in our South-West Region, Robert Mitchell (Senior Regional Manager) with support from both our Planning Director Haydn Jones and Design Director Charlotte Lewis have been toasting the good news that our Wimborne, Poole Borough housing allocation for circa 550 dwellings (including new care home provision) has been allocated and the Poole Local Plan formally adopted. This now paves the way for our forthcoming planning application and marketing of the site. We anticipate our application to be lodged in April with marketing beginning shortly thereafter. It is a fantastic site which will deliver a high quality new community with a locally significant new area of open space and SANG. If anyone is interested in this opportunity then please contact Robert or myself and we will provide further information.
But with the good comes the bad – and we have had disappointing news that two of our previously proposed allocations in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) have been ‘de-allocated’ in the recent ‘radical re-write’ of the GMSF. I wanted to highlight this as such events are part of the weekly ups and downs as life as a promoter – and it is at these moments that our landowner’s expect us to use our expertise and knowledge of the planning system to work our sites back into a Council’s thinking.
So…the start of what is expected to be a year of the unexpected (Brexit anyone?) has expectedly been as busy as we ever expected – and if that hasn’t raised your expectations for the next update…then I don’t know what will (what do you expect!).
All the best,
Jon Bloor – Western Divisional Director (Jonathan@ richboroughestates.co.uk) / 07508 1234 24
Western Division – Key Contacts
Midlands Region
Martyn Grimes – Regional Director – Martyn@richborough.co.uk / 07497 332 060
South-West Region
Robert Mitchell – Senior Regional Manager – Robert@richborough.co.uk / 07969124984
North Region
Harry Jackson – Regional Manager – harry@richborough.co.uk / 07494 153062