How Technology & Digital Innovation Can Support Compulsory Purchase; Sponsored by TerraQuest

TerraQuest Solutions – Dave Bellamy, Chief Operations Officer

Dave is Chief Operating Officer at TerraQuest Solutions and has over 25 years technical and systems support experience in a Multi-disciplinary, Major Projects, Service and Delivery Management across the technology and technology sector.  With an absolute focus on ensuring business benefits are realised from the investment in technology and high quality data systems, delivering solutions to the Planning Portal, Crossrail, Taylor Wimpey and Disclosure Scotland along data services to HS2, NI Land Registry, National Grid  amongst many others.

Fisher German – Rachel Bridge, Associate Director

Rachel is an Associate Director within the Infrastructure Services Division and is responsible for business development and bidding for new infrastructure work. Rachel has 14 years of experience managing infrastructure assets across the oil, gas, carbon capture and fibre sectors. Rachel has enjoyed many roles within the Utilities and Infrastructure Division including the property management and asset protection of thousands of kilometres of linear assets and associated infrastructure. Rachel is also a deputy National Chair of the Pipeline Industries Guild. Rachel initially joined Fisher German on placement from Harper Adams University College in 2007, and after completing her degree she returned in 2009.

Rachel played a key role in the sale of the live Government pipeline system of 2,000km of high pressure oil fuel pipelines and over 40 depots to the current operators CLH Psi in which she was involved in setting the base for the new legislation to enable the sale to take place.

Crossrail – Simon Bennett, Head of Learning Legacy

Simon is Head of Learning Legacy at Crossrail. A Civil Engineer, Transport Planner and Communications professional, he worked on the original 1990s Crossrail scheme for London Underground and in 2000 was seconded from TfL to Cross London Rail Links to work on developing the project and securing powers. He led the Consultation team which became the Petitions Negotiation team during the Bill process. During the construction phase he has been Head of Stakeholder Engagement and then Programme Community Relations Manager.

In 2015, Simon was appointed to lead the team responsible for the collation and dissemination of good practice, innovation and lessons learned from the Crossrail construction programme aimed at raising the bar in industry and showcasing UK PLC.

Avison Young – Virginia Blackman, Principal, Residential Development

Virginia is a Principal and National Head of Site Assembly & Compulsory Purchase at Avison Young. She has over 20 years of experience advising on development, regeneration and infrastructure projects across the UK, focusing on projects with public and private partnership, particularly those requiring site assembly and compulsory purchase. Clients include local planning authorities, developers, infrastructure providers and regeneration agencies and she chairs the RICS Expert Working Group on Compulsory Purchase.

Her experience spans the development process, from early-stage feasibility assessments through to delivery of projects. She combines a commercial understanding of the development process with experience of the entire land assembly process to provide realistic and deliverable advice to clients.

Recent projects include The Landing, Maidenhead, Vicarage Fields Barking, West Hendon estate regeneration, housing scheme in Rochdale, advising Walsall Borough Council on delivery of new housing and employment space, garden communities and other new residential settlements as well as business cases to justify transport infrastructure to facilitate economic development.

Aspire Compulsory Purchase LLP – Ian Lindsay, Senior Partner

Ian is a strategic land acquisition, property development & regeneration professional with more than 30 years’ experience and a strong track record of successful delivery in complex mixed-use redevelopment and major infrastructure projects.

A Chartered Surveyor, prior to joining aspireCP in 2018 Ian spent seven years at Crossrail. As Land & Property Director he delivered one of the most complex compulsory purchase programmes ever undertaken in the UK and put in place the design, planning and commercial contracts for 3.5m sq.ft of Over-Site Development as well as overseeing the public realm improvements outside every Crossrail station in London.

Before Crossrail Ian headed Network Rail’s Property Development team, enabling the redevelopment of Cannon Street, Birmingham New Street and London Bridge stations by capturing value from real estate opportunities. Prior to this Ian held a variety of client roles with responsibility for property led regeneration schemes and he maintains a keen interest in delivering affordable housing, acting as a Non-Executive Director at Moat Housing Ltd.

Since joining Aspire Ian has been working on the regeneration of Morden Town Centre for TfL and London Borough of Merton and he is also working with Crossrail International to advise Sydney Metro on integrated property development opportunities.

Fisher German – Rebecca Hannah, Senior Associate

Senior Associate at Fisher German with 7 years’ experience as a Chartered Surveyor and specialising in CPOs and DCO’s for linear infrastructure. Rebecca started her career in utilities after graduating from Harper Adams University where she studied Rural Enterprise and Land Management. Rebecca continued her career in estate management for Savills before joining Fisher German in 2019 where she’s undertaking several utility projects including an new 8km sewer main which is required to increase the capacity of the network. Rebecca also advises on route selection, land entry and compensation matters.