A project manager who led the delivery of a £550 million redevelopment in the Midlands has joined Birmingham-based Henry Davidson Developments (HDD).

Guy Scott has been appointed by HDD, the leading developer of retail-led mixed-use schemes, as it continues to bolster its presence with a range of new projects across the country.

The former project director of the £550 million Lawley Village Sustainable Urban Extension in Telford joins HDD from Arcadis, where he led the Birmingham City Hospital redevelopment, a strategic land development project for Leicester City Council and also the scheme to relocate Warwick DC offices within a new mixed use development in Leamington Spa.

His 30-year career also includes spells at Persimmon Homes West Midlands and EC Harris, where he was involved in a major inner city community regeneration scheme in Higher Broughton, Salford. Guy also led the Project and Commercial Management commission for Sainsbury’s new build stores within the West Midlands and was involved in a major residential-led regeneration project in North Solihull with an estimated value of £1.5 billion.

HDD managing director Scott Davidson said: “We’ve known Guy for some years through our work on the Lawley Village development. He’s someone I admire for his wide range of project management skills gained during an impressive career. His track record speaks for itself, and I’m delighted that he’s agreed to join the team here at Henry Davidson Developments.”

Guy, from Shrewsbury, said: “I know from experience that Henry Davidson Developments delivers high quality neighbourhood centres, working hand-in-hand with local authorities, national housebuilders and other key stakeholders. It demonstrated its ambition through its recent relocation to the heart of Birmingham and with the first class team of property professionals it has established.

“Joining the team at this exciting time in the development of the business was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse and I’m looking forward to playing an important role in the growth of the company.”

Since moving to Birmingham 12 months ago HDD has appointed Simon Horan as business development director, development director Alastair Robertson-Dunn, director Graeme Cosgrove, and project director Kevin Foster.

HDD’s new business drive is focusing on Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, but also locations within a two-hour drive including the Chilterns, Oxfordshire, the South West and East Midlands, as well as select conurbations to the north to include Greater Manchester.

HDD has recently delivered major retail led mixed use developments across the UK, including Didcot in Oxfordshire, Newtown Leys at Milton Keynes, Hampton at Peterborough, and the final phase of Lawley Village in Telford.

Development and investment specialist Simon Horan has joined a leading developer of retail led mixed-use schemes at its new Birmingham headquarters, it was announced today.

Simon has left Savills in Birmingham, where he led the residential development and investment team, to become Business Development Director at Henry Davidson Developments (HDD).

The ambitious company has recently announced three other senior appointments with development directors Alastair Robertson-Dunn and Graeme Cosgrove, and project director Kevin Foster, all joining since it opened its Birmingham office.

He said: “Henry Davidson Developments has a very strong team and a reputation for delivering high quality neighbourhood centres, working hand in hand with local authorities, national housebuilders and other key stakeholders.

“The company’s recent move into Birmingham has widened its horizons and there are a huge number of exciting opportunities we wish to pursue. My role as Business Development Director will be to use my knowledge of this very distinctive market, while utilizing my contacts at regional and national housebuilders to ensure that we are at the forefront of their thinking for the development of neighbourhood centres and other mixed use opportunities required through planning.”

He added: “Birmingham as well as the wider West Midlands is attracting major investment and HDD’s move into the city centre is a very shrewd move. Being located in the CBD of Britain’s second city is the right location to exploit these opportunities allowing us to engage efficiently with a plethora of national and regional stakeholders. The company will benefit enormously from the contacts they make in the city.”

HDD’s new business drive will focus on Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, but also locations within a two-hour drive including the Chilterns, Oxfordshire, the South West and East Midlands, as well as select conurbations to the north to include Greater Manchester.

Simon joined Savills in Birmingham in 2005. Recent projects he has been involved in include the marketing and disposal of the University of Northampton campuses pending their move to the new Waterside Campus and the sale of Yew Tree Village, a residential led scheme to the south of Droitwich providing over 500 new homes plus a new district centre. He has also been involved in negotiations surrounding the Greenbelt release which will provide up to 6,000 new homes at the Langley Sustainable Urban Extension in Sutton Coldfield. His career has also included a spell at CBRE in Birmingham where he was brought in to create a new residential development department and Hampton’s International based in the Home Counties providing development consultancy advice to major institutions.

Originally from Windsor, Simon now lives in Hereford. He is married and has three children. He gained a RICS accredited degree in Estate Management at Southampton. Interests are focused largely on sport, including skiing, coaching rugby, and still manages to play hockey periodically when time permits.

Just weeks after relocating to Birmingham, Henry Davidson Developments (HDD) has announced it has bolstered its presence in the region with the appointment of two experienced directors.

Graeme Cosgrove and Kevin Foster have joined the ambitious property developers ahead of what promises to be a busy 2018 for the company.

Scott Davidson, managing director of HDD, said: “To welcome two directors of Graeme and Kevin’s calibre is a great boost to us at a time when we are establishing ourselves in Birmingham and winning new projects on a regular basis. They will reinforce our position as leading developers in retail-led schemes here in the Midlands and right across the country.”

Graeme has more than 27 years’ experience in commercial property across the retail, residential, and leisure sectors, having held a number of director roles at companies including Bass, Warner Bros, Wilson Bowden Developments, Savills and more recently  at Lincoln-based Simons Group where he was group director of development.

Notable projects he led while at Simons Group include managing delivery of the £17 million Portsmouth Retail Park, the £8 million Trinity Retail Park at Chipping Norton, and a £25 million North Lincolnshire Shopping Park in Scunthorpe and the £20 million Bargoed Gateway Retail Development in South Wales..

Graeme said: “This is an extremely exciting time to join HDD, with the company heading in a new direction and setting out plans for growth from its new Birmingham base. I am looking forward to being part of this new era and will endeavour to become a valued member of the team, building on the success it already enjoys.”

Kevin joins HDD as project director, with 27 years’ experience in commercial property across the retail, residential, hotel and office sectors, most recently at boutique hotel operator Cathedral Hotels Limited.

He has held development director and director roles at a number of companies, including asset management company Corum Investment Advisers and national property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle, and has worked on key projects, such as Bull Ring Birmingham on behalf of The Birmingham Alliance, Market Buildings in Guernsey on behalf of a private client, together with numerous development projects across the UK in the commercial and residential sectors.

HDD recently relocated its headquarters from Nottingham to offices at Birmingham’s St Philip’s Point, to capitalise on the city’s booming commercial property market and to provide a strong platform for growth as it expands its operations.

Kevin said: “HDD is very well placed to win many new projects and have a very successful future, so it is a great time to join the company at its new Birmingham office. I’ve got to know the team here while working as a consultant and the time is right for me to join as project director as we grow the company by delivering high quality developments across the country.”

Henry Davidson Developments (HDD) has completed the relocation of its headquarters to Birmingham and has quickly capitalised on the city’s booming commercial property market.

The ambitious property developer – which specialises in retail-led, mixed use developments – is expanding its operations after relocating from Nottingham with support from Finance Birmingham.

The company has moved its team to St Philip’s Point, enjoying panoramic views of the city centre from its top floor offices. Clearly visible are cranes at major construction projects including Paradise and 3 Snowhill.

HDD managing director Scott Davidson said:

“It’s great to have completed our relocation into the heart of Birmingham’s central business district. There’s so much development activity it feels like the city is really on the crest of a wave. Within just a few days of moving here our eyes have been opened to the numerous possibilities there are in Birmingham.

“Nottingham has been a fantastic place for us from which to establish and grow our business. However, for us to expand and accelerate our growth further it was vital that we move to a city with a large agency base with national commissions. The opportunities here in Birmingham are very exciting and we are already reaping the rewards with several new projects in the pipeline.”

“We are determined to expand the business but to do that we need to recruit the very best, highly experienced property professionals. In a highly competitive market, it can be difficult to find the right people. We only want to recruit people of the highest quality and Birmingham offers us the chance to do that.”

HDD is currently delivering major retail led mixed use  developments across the UK, including Didcot in Oxfordshire, Newton Leys, at Milton Keynes, and Hampton at Peterborough and the final phase of Lawley Village in Telford.

HDDs growth aspirations have been supported by Finance Birmingham’s regional mezzanine fund, supported by the Regional Growth Fund on behalf of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

Nick Oakley, head of property investments at Finance Birmingham, said:

“We are delighted to support HDD in both their move to Birmingham and also their exciting growth aspirations, they are a dynamic property development business with an excellent track record of delivery. We look forward to helping them continue their growth over the years to come.”

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