With seven major contracts underway a Yorkshire developer has persuaded architect Philip Lees to end his four-year retirement and manage the design and build of its commercial and leisure projects.
The Leeds-based Gregory Property Group (GPG) — whose portfolio includes the £40m mixed-use scheme at Broad Street Plaza in Halifax and the £40m retail park at York’s Foss Islands — confirmed Lees is joining the management team “at a time when we are very active in progressing a number of new development projects”.
The architect was a partner at Watson Lees & Batty before setting up his own practice, Philip Lees & Associates, in 1985. Two decades later he sold out to the Archial Group and became chairman of its North and Midlands region and joined its executive management board until retiring in 2010.
“Philip and I established a strong working partnership spanning over 25 years,” commented GPG chairman Barry Gregory. “He is a trusted confidant who will bring great expertise to managing the procurement and delivery of our projects.”
Among the projects Lees will help manage are new retail schemes in Rotherham and Brighouse, leisure and retail projects in Harrogate, Leeds and Darlington, and an industrial development in Ossett, Wakfield.
Thrings — the M4 corridor commercial law firm with offices in Swindon, Bath, Bristol and London — has attracted two new specialists to its fast-growing commercial property team.
Steve Schofield is joining the group as an associate after spending more than 11 years at Guildford-based Stevens & Bolton where his clients included a FTSE-100 distribution and outsourcing company. He has also advised developers and landowners on site assembly, development agreements, pre-lets and disposals.
And recently qualified solicitor Beth Nicholls will provide advice to Thrings’ commercial clients on a range of issues, including investments, secured lending and leisure-based developments.
After six years as leader of Browne Jacobson’s Birmingham property department Victoria Camfield has joined law firm Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) as a partner.
With more than 15 years’ experience in real estate law, she specialises in advising property development companies and public sector bodies on a broad spectrum of development projects.
Hired to boost SPB’s expanding real estate department, managing partner Nick Green said: “Victoria has a strong track record in the investment and development sectors and specialist expertise in advising international companies on investment in UK real estate.”
As several of its projects enter the construction phase, developer Court Collaboration has recruited Ivan Woodward to its Birmingham-based management team as projects director.
Woodward — who recently helped deliver the refurbishment of Birmingham Repertory Theatre — will focus on two immediate projects: Royal Sutton Place, the former Sutton Coldfield Council House, and the regeneration of Franklin House, the neglected former Cadbury’s headquarters in Bournville.
Commercial property consultancy WHR — which has just celebrated its tenth anniversary — has made Dan Crossley a full equity partner. He will be the fourth partner at the Manchester-based firm, which now employs 28 people, alongside Gareth Buckley, Mark Williams and Mike Rooney.
Horncastle-based solicitors, Chattertons, have named David Chambers as the newest member of their commercial property team. He is joining the Lincolnshire firm with more than a quarter-century of business real estate experience.
Senior surveyor Mark Williams has been named as the new head of Yorkshire-based Dacres Commercial’s real estate team. With offices in Skipton, Ilkley and Keighley, he will be responsible for the marketing of retail, office, industrial, leisure units as well as development and investment opportunities.
Finally, Deloitte Real Estate has today welcomed Katie Treadwell to its City leasing team. Treadwell will work alongside Matthew Elliot, and Steve Johns, head of London Transactions and Head of City Leasing respectively. Gemma Hewes has also returned to her role as director in City Leasing following maternity leave.
Story: Cliff Goodwin
Photo: Bigstock
