BNP Paribas Real Estate is launching a new vision and new leadership for its London and UK wide development and planning team, boosted by a series of promotions. This strategic move will support clients’ changing needs in an increasingly complex development environment by providing the complete development life cycle of services, across all use classes, from a single multidisciplinary team, across both BNP Paribas Real Estate and Strutt & Parker.
London – new leadership and vision
In London, BNP Paribas Real Estate is bringing together development expertise covering transactions, planning and consultancy across commercial, residential and alternative uses into a dedicated team that will be led by Paul Nicholls as Head of London Development & Planning. He joined the business earlier in the autumn to lead the firm’s vison for a single London development team. He will be a key figure driving the new direction for the firm together with Victoria Seal, who has been promoted to Deputy Head of London Development & Planning. Jeff Field remains Head of London Planning.
Multidisciplinary consultancy and capital markets teams will be brought together with planners and continue to be supported by a range of established technical specialisms such as compulsory purchase and planning viability. The focus will be supporting clients at any stage of a project and adding value to the full spectrum of clients’ development aspirations, be that estate regeneration and placemaking, or office and residential development.
Paul Nicholls comments on the remodelling of the London team: “Complex market conditions mean that developers and landowners in London are increasingly reliant on advisors to be more open-minded and innovative in their approach to helping with the strategic direction of projects. By focusing our development services as a dedicated team, our clients will get the benefit of greater in-depth analysis from a wider range of experts across market sectors but with a single point of contact. Our holistic approach to development and planning will give clients greater advantage when considering their long term plans and to secure maximum returns.
Despite the significant turbulence generated by Brexit and COVID-19, London is upholding its resilient reputation with continued interest from domestic and international investors, particularly for prime opportunities where value can be added. We are well placed to help landowners and developers to plan ahead to take advantage of the wider market recovery as we return to a more stable market.”
National Promotions
To help drive forward the national strategy for Strutt & Parker Iain Halls has been promoted to Deputy Head of National Development & Planning. He will be working closely with the Head of Development & Planning, John McLarty.
James Firth steps into a new role as Head of National Planning; he was previously Head of Chelmsford Planning. He will oversee the national planning business outside of London, working with clients and supporting the commercial and rural businesses.
Richard Foxon takes on the role as Deputy Head of National Development to support the Head of National Development, Simon Kibblewhite.
Strutt & Parker, which is part of BNP Paribas Real Estate, has Development & Planning teams in 12 offices across the UK.
The national teams have in-depth understanding of their local markets and extensive experience in working closely with clients and local authorities to support growth in a complex and ever changing planning and development landscape. They are perfectly placed to support clients on their project’s full journey, whether they are landowners, land promoters, developers, funds or local authorities to capitalise on their development opportunities along with offering services including planning advice, engagement, and project management.
James Firth comments on the nationwide delivery of the strategy: “The Government ambition to ‘level up’ left behind regions across the UK, coupled with the development industry and local authorities own determination to increase economic growth and create jobs through largescale development and infrastructure projects are expected to generate increased demand for specialist development and planning advice.
With our established client base of rural landowners, land promoters, developers and local authorities we are well placed to support these projects on their full journey.”
