Watford Development Plans 2015

FOUR of Watford’s Leading Development Figures will be presenting their development/investment plans for the next couple of years!

Event Sponsored by:                  Programme Sponsored by: 

Event Format

• 1530 – 1600; Registration
• 1600 – 1645; Networking with Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks
• 1645 – 1815; Speaker Presentations
• 1815 – 1900; Networking with Hot Food, Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks
• 1930 – 2200; After Event Dinner (INVITE ONLY)

Speakers

Leigh Thomas; Director, Kier Property

Responsible for the identification and delivery of mixed use and commercial developments throughout the UK.

Andrew Gibson; Economic Development Manager, Watford Borough Council

Andrew is also actively involved in many of Watford’s major development and regeneration projects including the Croxley Rail Link, town centre enhancements, Watford Health Campus, Watford Business Park/Western Gateway and the proposed future redevelopment of Watford Junction. A planner by background, Andrew specialises in urban regeneration, transport and infrastructure, development viability, external funding, including EU funding and also supports the development of planning and economic policy for the Borough. Recent work has included supporting the development of the Councils Local Plan Part 2, including detailed planning policies and site allocations, Watford’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule, implementing on the 1st of April 2015, revised economic projections for the Borough to 2031 and Article 4 Direction on Clarendon Road, removing Permitted Development Rights for conversion to residential.

Andrew is also a member of the Institute of Economic Development and a Board Director at the Watford & West Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce.

As a Local Authority, Watford Borough Council has a leadership role within the local community. Elected members work on behalf of the community they serve. It is the job of the apolitical Council officer to support the elected members and to progress initiatives for the wider benefit of the business and civic community in the Borough.

Prior to working in the public sector, Andrew worked in the private construction sector and also had his own planning and development consultancy.

In his spare time Andrew enjoys films, cooking and golf as well as travelling to far flung corners of the world when possible, enjoying the food and soaking up the atmosphere. He is a fan of both Manchester United and Watford FC and is also known for his interest in the more extreme sports which included a recent rafting and mountain biking trip to Peru and Bolivia.

Rebecca Ryman; Regional Director, Intu Properties

Joined the group in 2000 working initially on Watford and then on virtually all of intu’s assets over the last 14 years in roles within Asset Management, Property Management, Leasing and Commercialisation. Appointed Regional Director in May 2014 with responsibility for intu Watford, intu Bromley, intu Chapelfield and intu Uxbridge. Prior to the appointment as Regional Director, Rebecca has most recently been involved in the mall refreshment and

Intu is a FTSE 100 property company with an £8.8bn portfolio of some of the very best shopping centres in the UK including intu Trafford Centre, intu Lakeside and intu Metrocentre.  We developed intu Watford in the early 90’s and during 2015 have plans for a major extension and refurbishment of the centre as part of our £1.2bn 10 year group redevelopment pipeline.

To find out more, please click the link below:

http://www.intugroup.co.uk/

Richard Olsen; Chairman, Orion Land & Leisure

Orion is led by our Chairman Richard Olsen. Richard has a reputation within the industry of being naturally entrepreneurial and visionary and leads a team of experienced individuals who bring the necessary commercial, creative, legal and management skills to deliver their vision.

As Chairman of Orion’s Board, Richard Olsen oversees all aspects of the company. He has over 30 years’ experience in the industry, with detailed market knowledge across the entire investment and development spectrum.

His business model is simple: listen to how people really want to lead their lives; pay meticulous attention to design and planning; think of the future; be tenacious; deliver what we say we will, when we say we will and always act with integrity.