BNP Paribas Real Estate has appointed senior development expert Paul Nicholls to lead the Central London Development Team and further strengthen its London development offer. He will become an instrumental member of the business’ Development & Planning team, with highly experienced specialists advising on every aspect of real estate development in London and across the UK. In addition, he will also be supporting the Commercial London Markets team.
Paul will bring with him 20 years of development experience from across London and all key real estate sectors via transaction, funding, design, feasibility, viability and consultancy advice. In his new leadership role, he will focus on driving BNP Paribas Real Estate’s development strategy and coordinate the business experts to deliver greater support to clients.
Stephen Wolfe, Head of Commercial, BNP Paribas Real Estate said:
“Paul’s arrival will allow us to centralise our development consultancy advice for all use classes across Central London boroughs. Heading up the newly created Central London Development Team, he will bring together the significant expertise of the London Markets, London Residential Development & Investment, Alternatives, Hotels and Greater London leasing teams to provide strategic advice across a range of London development opportunities.
Over the last five years we have continued to grow our development and planning expertise, allowing us to support clients with increasingly complex projects, provide advice around changing regulations and drive added value for them.
With the Government’s new planning proposals and the challenges presented by COVID-19, access to strategic advice that will offer a holistic view for projects is more important than ever.
We are excited to welcome Paul to the business and with his wide-ranging expertise in planning and development across the Greater London area, he will be an extremely complimentary addition to the team.”
Paul joins from CBRE where he was a Senior Director. Some of his most notable projects have included: advising the People’s Republic of China on the £255m acquisition of Royal Mint Court for a new London embassy and strategically advising Kaupthing Bank as a JV partner on Fitzroy Place, a new West End neighbourhood bringing together high quality offices, state-of-the-art homes and stylish restaurants. In addition, he supported U+I with acquisition advice on Landmark Court, SE1, where a 1.7-acre derelict site in the heart of Bankside will be redeveloped to create a cultural and social hub for people to live, work and visit.
The team he will be leading has a wealth of urban regeneration and multi-use expertise across London and will allow the consultancy, planning and London Markets teams greater ability to coordinate projects with a focus on clients’ needs and appetite for the changing world.
Paul Nicholls added: “I am delighted to be joining BNP Paribas Real Estate to expand and strengthen the firm’s comprehensive development advisory services for investors in all use classes across London. By adding my experience to the excellent agency, planning and technical advice already offered, we will be able to provide a true full-service offering for clients right through a property’s life-cycle.”
