Spencer joined Richborough one year ago as part of our newly formed Land Studies team.
Here, he takes us through what the team does, how it supports the regional teams within Richborough and what he enjoys most.
What does a typical day look like for you as Land Studies for Richborough?
My working days vary significantly. I spend a considerable amount of time reviewing local plans, new infrastructure developments and assessing housing needs. All this informs our work in Land Studies, where we essentially search for new opportunities in specifically targeted local planning authorities.
A key part of our work in the Land Studies team is managing the growing database – in our bespoke Richborough platform – which covers site details, planning statuses, constraints and competitors. I maintain regular communication with the regional planning managers to present sites of interest and liaise with landowners. We’re often the first port of call in the process so I’ll be putting our regional teams in touch with landowners who are keen to enter into a promotion agreement. We also conduct detailed reviews of residential and commercial sites submitted to us by land agents across the country in the hope of identifying the right opportunities for our regional teams.
What do you enjoy most about being on the Land Studies team?
For me, the whole process of scouting for the right opportunities to feed the pipeline of sites for our regional teams is enjoyable; however, it’s building relationships with landowners that I get the most value from. Being able to articulate the benefits of working with Richborough and how we can help them, I find it greatly enjoyable, knowing we could have a meaningful impact on their lives.
What do you enjoy about working for Richborough?
Richborough places a lot of value in working with and understanding the different teams and facets of the business and how they work and I really enjoy that. As someone early in their career, it has allowed me to gain useful insight from different aspects of the company which has been significantly beneficial. Our group land director encourages us to expand our knowledge and responsibility in our role and throughout the company and I enjoy his support and insight.
What’s your proudest achievement at Richborough so far?
Although I have only been at Richborough for just over a year, I’m particularly proud of my contributions in identifying and reaching out to the landowners of a huge 547-acre site in North Weald Bassett, which led to an exciting opportunity for the South East team, which then secured a deal with the landowners.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter the field of land promotion?
Firstly, I would advise absorbing as much planning knowledge as possible, as it will shape how you perceive the development potential of a site. Understanding and reviewing local plan updates, housing supply and NPPF policies will all provide a solid foundation to build your future in land promotion on.
How do you unwind after a particularly challenging project or day?
I usually unwind by taking part in an activity such as hiking, Padel or a bit of football… unless it happens to be perfect beer garden weather in which case I’ll be at my local pub.