Stoford Developments has appointed a new planning director as it looks to strengthen its senior management team.
Jo Russell joins the award-winning Birmingham-based property developer from planning and development consultancy Turley, where she was director, working with key clients to deliver sites from early promotion to planning permission.
In her new Board-level role she will provide in-house planning advice and will manage strategic projects for the business, from land promotion through to securing planning permission, as well as advising on new opportunities. The business currently has more than 1,000 acres of strategic land under control in the UK and it is looking to significantly expand this over the next two to three years.
Jo said: “I have been fortunate to be involved in a number of projects with Stoford, including project successes at Worcester Six and Enfield, over the past few years and therefore know the team really well. Stoford has an excellent regional and national reputation as a developer and has won a number of awards in the sector, so I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the business and look forward to identifying new locations and directions for growth.”
Welcoming Jo to Stoford Developments, director Gerard Ludlow, said: “Stoford continues to go from strength to strength and as we grow the business, we rely on having the very best team in place. We’re very pleased to welcome Jo to the team after working with her on a number of projects over the past few years.”
Jo is currently chair of the Planning and Development Association – a group of private sector professionals comprising developers, housebuilders and consultants that meet biannually and discuss to planning issues and consultations – a two-year post that ends this month (December 2018).
Outside of work she enjoys travelling, planning self-guided trips that have taken her to Australia, Kenya, United States, New Zealand, and parts of Asia, and she also leads fundraising and community events at her local church in Coventry.