CBRE has appointed Andrew Round as senior director of economic development.
Andrew will be based in the firm’s Birmingham office but with a national remit, working in CBRE UK’s growing planning and development team.
In his new role, Andrew will provide CBRE clients with advice to facilitate new development by assessing need, understanding impacts, and promoting social and economic benefits, alongside building business cases for public funding to unlock or accelerate development and regeneration sites.
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Andrew has considerable experience in economics, regeneration and placemaking, working in both the public and private sectors. His previous roles included director of growth and regeneration at Cheshire East Council and assistant director of planning and development at Birmingham City Council, where he worked on major projects such as HS2, the redevelopment of New Street Station and Paradise Circus, and the Birmingham City Centre Enterprise Zone.
Prior to joining CBRE, Andrew was corporate director of place at Worcester City Council, responsible for planning, economic development, tourism and city centre management.
Ashley Hancox, CBRE executive director, development planning and land for the Midlands and South region, said: “Andrew is highly respected and vastly experienced, having operated at the highest levels in both the public and private sector. His knowledge and insight into how to bring forward development will be invaluable as we continue to build this exciting area of our business.”
Andrew said: “Having spent a large part of my career in Birmingham, I’m excited to be returning to the city and the challenges and opportunities this new role presents. I’m also looking forward to working with the UK-wide team to develop this new service offer.
“The Government’s levelling up and Build Back Better agenda means there is an appetite for development across all sectors, particularly if we can clearly articulate the social and economic benefits of a scheme, be it commercial, residential or mixed-use.”