Midlands Development Conference; Sponsored by Browne Jacobson

Lloyds Banking Group – Chris Sood-Nicholls, Managing Director, Head of Regional Development & Social Impact Investment

Lloyds Banking Group have been actively investing in development across the Midlands. They’ve recently provided a £235m sustainability loan to develop new affordable housing and decarbonise their existing portfolio. The funding is Lloyd Bank’s biggest sustainability-linked loan for the social housing sector to date.

Chris currently leads the Corporate & Institutional Bank’s ESG Regional Development programme which is focussed on place-based, social impact investment, looking at the role of financial institutions working in places with specific regeneration challenges, delivering additional environmental and social benefit alongside commercial returns.

Bruntwood SciTech – Dr Kath Mackay, Director of Life Sciences

Bruntwood SciTech is the UK’s leading property provider deidacted to driving the growth of the science and technology sector. Kate leads Bruntwood SciTech’s life science assets across the UK including Alderley Park, Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, and Citylabs in Manchester. Birmingham Health Innovation Campus’ first phase is due to be complete by September 2023. A 10-year masterplan has been developed for the Campus, which will provide up to 700,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art lab, office and incubation space, acting as a catalyst for the growth of the Midlands’ life science sector. It will create over 10,000 new jobs and contribute £400m GVA to the regional economy by 2030.

IM Properties – Richard Knight, Special Projects Director

To date, IM Properties have successfully developed over ten million square feet of quality commercial space for high-profile occupiers across the UK. The business has grown to encompass a real estate portfolio valued in excess of £1bn. They are currently working on Mercia Park, a new net zero 238-acre employment park in north west Leicester, adjacent to junction 11 of the M42. Mercia Park will be home to leading businesses including a 2.94 million square foot global logistics centre for Jaguar Land Rover and a 522,000 square foot industrial facility for DSV Group. IM Properties have also worked on major developments across the Midlands, previously investing £350m into three-phases of the Birch Coppice Business Park that is now home to 21 occupiers including Ocado, UPS and Euro Car Parts.

West Midlands Growth Company – Katie Trout, Director of Policy and Partnerships

West Midlands Growth Company helps to achieve objectives set out in the West Midlands Combined Authority Strategic Economic Plan, creating new jobs, building and expanding businesses, attracting regional investment and encouraging tourism. Working in collaboration with the Department for International Trade, West Midlands Growth Company have also recently launched the West Midlands Global Growth Programme, a new Government-backed incentive package to bolster trade and investment between the West Midlands and global markets.

East Midlands Development Corporation – Sir Chris Haworth, Chairman

East Midlands Development Company (EM DevCo) is owned by five local authorities in the East Midlands with sustainability and inclusive growth at the heart of their developments. EM DevCo are currently overseeing three major regeneration schemes that cover the size of three Olympic Parks with transformational opportunities. Toton and Chetwynd East Midlands Hub, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station area and East Midlands Airport area are the three named schemes that could create 84,000 jobs and add approximately £4.8bn in value to the regional economy.

Lendlease – Selina Mason, Director of Masterplanning

In a joint venture alongside Starwood Capital, Lendlease are moving forward with the transformative Silvertown Quays regeneration project. The 27 acre, £3.5bn scheme will bring to life a new neighbourhood on land in Newham which has been derelict for the past 40 years. 6,000 new homes will be developed, alongside 1.8m sq ft of workspace as well as cultural and community buildings in a new town centre for the Royal Docks.

Vita Group – James Rooke, Head of Planning

Urban regeneration specialists, Vita Group has been creating environments in which people can thrive since 2012. They have a development pipeline totalling over a billion. The group started with Vita Student, the world’s best student accommodation, now a complete living platform, with four brands to meet the demands of tomorrow’s city living. Vita Group currently has over 9,000 beds in its development pipeline including Vita Student Coventry and Warwick opening in September, a mixed-use PBSA 1,000+ bed development Nottingham Guildhall, bringing forward Vita Group’s new student concept, House of Social.

Goodstone Living – Martin Bellinger, Co-Founder – Principle

Goodstone Living are innovators in the sustainable residential market, providing specialised Built-to-Rent properties. They have recently announced their first foray into the West Midlands market which will see 550 BtR homes built across 22,000 sq ft in Birmingham. With other schemes nationwide, Martin will join the event to talk about their national expansion and other future ideas for cities within the Midlands.

Birmingham City Council – Cllr Sharon Thompson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness

With the population of Birmingham set to soar to 1.24 million by 2030, the council has identified the need for 51,000 new homes in that time. Sharon joins this session to talk about how the local authority are disrupting new ways to develop healthier, smarter communities across the city and encouraging developers to make Birmingham the home of their flagship projects.

Warwickshire Property and Development Group – Stuart Buckley, Managing Director

Stuart is the Managing Director of Warwickshire Property & Development Group a Warwickshire County Council’s 100% owned delivery vehicle for property development and management. Key responsible person for the delivery of the agreed Business Plan and responsible to WPDG Board and WCC. He manages a team of Surveyors, Finance specialists, office staff to deliver on development assets of over 2,500 new homes, commercial and over 500 income producing assets. The wholly owned group are looking for JV partners for £2.5bn worth of mixed use, housing and commercial developments over 30 years.

Staffordshire University – Marek Hornak, Associate Dean – Partnerships and Enterprise

Staffordshire University is one of the Midlands’ leading educational institutions, with their city campus based in Stoke-on-Trent. As a part of their 2030 campus masterplan, they have recently completed The Catalyst, a flagship £40m physical and virtual hub to connect employers, students and apprentices. The university is also working leading on the construction of a new on campus Nursery and Forest School, with sustainability, nature and digital technology at the heart of the build. Marek joins us to detail the university’s role in placemaking and how their estate is evolving to meet demand.

Platform Housing Group – Elizabeth Froude, Group Chief Executive

Platform Housing Group is one of the largest housing associations in the Midlands with over 120,000 customers and 45,000 homes. The housing association has recently secured a £235m sustainability-linked loan from Lloyds Bank to help develop affordable homes and decarbonise its existing portfolio. This will be supported in part by Platform’s recent Homes England bid, where a £250m grant was secured to develop around 4,600 properties. Elizabeth joins us to share insight into PHG’s decarbonisation and housing delivery programme.

HUB – Damien Sharkey, Managing Director

HUB is an award-winning residential developer that offers better living, good design and real communities. Recently announcing the development of the Beaverhall House over 1.25-acre site due for completion in 2025 – named the 4th coolest neighbourhood in the world. Damien Sharkey will be joining us on the session to discuss, development plans, meeting the demand of BtR and how to accelerate the delivery of housing stock.

Birmingham Airport – Nikki Bains, Head of Planning, Transport and Strategy

Back in 2019, Birmingham Airport announced plans for £500m worth of development to increase passenger numbers from 13 million per year to 18 million by 2033. The expansion will see the departure lounge in the north terminal extended by 40% and is set to add a mezzanine, more check-in facilities, and additional seating and retail space. Nikki will reveal more intel on this expansion as well as discussing the airport’s strategy for recovery and the role the airport plays in Birmingham and the UK’s economy.

Staffordshire County Council – Philip White, Deputy Leader

Staffordshire County Council is a key partner in a series of major improvements along the A50/A500 corridor set out by Midlands Connect. The upgrades are targeted at reducing congestion, supporting local businesses, and promoting greener transport use that will in turn improve Staffordshire’s transport routes, increase investment and boost productivity. The plans could create a £12bn economic boost and help to unlock over 12,000 jobs. This comes in addition to the Branston Locks 400-acre mixed use development that’s next phase will commence during 2022.

Midlands Connect – Sarah Spink, Strategic Partnerships Lead

More information to follow.

University of Warwick Science Park – Mark Tock, Chief Operating Officer

As one of the oldest science parks in the UK, the University of Warwick Science Park has provided a well-equipped environment for research and technology since 1982. The park was established as a joint venture company owned by the University of Warwick, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Wet Midlands Enterprise Board. Today the park operated across three sites, supporting hundreds of businesses. The board is looking to expand in the coming years and Mark joins us to share some intel into UWSP’s next chapter.

Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands – Dr Pam Waddell OBE, Director

Dr Pam Waddell is the founding Director of the Innovation Alliance for the West Midlands (IAWM), a regional partnership working to stimulate science and technology-based innovation to improve prosperity and wellbeing across the West Midlands. IAWM’s objectives are to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem for the West Midlands and to catalyse collaborative activity focussed on demand-led innovation. The Innovation Alliance currently have nine projects in delivery, investing millions to maintain the region’s innovation programme.

Waterman Group – Richard White, Associate Director

Richard is an Associate Director with more than 15 years’ experience undertaking and project managing a wide range of transportation studies and projects, leading and developing projects across planning, transportation and public health, including the design and implementation of walking and cycling schemes, transport innovation, developing transport/planning policy, scheme design, and accessibility planning.

Urban Growth Company – Sue Barrett, Chief Operating Officer

Supported by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority , the Urban Growth Company is a critical catalyst for growth, ensuring that ambitions for the HS2 Interchange site are fully realised by coordinating investment plans and growth opportunities. Sue will give an update on their key project – The Hub, which will create 8,000 homes, 70,000 new and supported jobs and over 650,000 sq ft of commercial space.

City of Wolverhampton Council – Liam Davies, Head of City Development

City of Wolverhampton Council has bid for £20million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2 to help deliver phase one of its ambitious Green Innovation Corridor. The aim of the Green Innovation Corridor is to build on Wolverhampton’s growth as a centre for sustainable construction and create skilled jobs for local people in the emerging green economy. It will focus on creating high-value jobs in specialist sectors, support student retention, harness home-grown talent, develop new opportunities for business investment and growth, and leverage private sector funding. Phase one of the Green Innovation Corridor is the Springfield Innovation Hub to be developed net carbon zero and based at the University of Wolverhampton’s £120million Springfield site – an architecture and built environment super-campus. Liam joins the conference to update delegates on the scheme.

Arup – Abigaile Bromfield, Director, Midlands Integrated City Planning and Design Leader

Abigaile has also spent time working in the Cabinet Office Implementation Unit for the Prime Minister (2015-16), advising on improving the implementation of housing and transport related policies. Her work combines practical development experience with a strong track record in stakeholder engagement and political communication.

Arup is leading on key regional growth projects, including the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr’. The UK Central Hub Growth and Infrastructure Plan and the development of detailed plans for the East Midlands Development Corporation

Browne Jacobson – Peter Ware, Chair of Midlands Engine Green Growth Board & Partner and Head of Government Practice

Peter is the Chair of Midlands Engine Green Growth Board and will discuss the power of connection and why it’s so important if we’re to deliver our ambitions for the Midlands, meeting the challenges of the future.

Built Environment Networking – Fahmida Nisa, Online Event Manager

Nisa is a research, marketing and content specialist at Built Environment Networking. She will be hosting a number of the sessions throughout the day, running the day’s proceedings and managing the interaction between our virtual delegates and the speakers.

Browne Jacobson – Gabor Taller, Partner

Browne Jacobson are thought leaders providing world-class advice on modern and complex matters of local government. Their expertise in business and society gives them a unique oversight of both public and private bodies. This, and their ability to forge strong relationships with local and central governmental organisations, puts them at the centre of public sector modernisation. While their market-leading work in organisational change, the drive to carbon neutrality, digital transformation, regeneration and more puts them at the forefront of society’s biggest issues.

Gabor Taller is passionate about social housing – having worked in the sector for Browne Jacobson for more than 15 years. In June 2022, Gabor took his commitment to the next level, when he joined staff from Platform Housing Group to cycle over 200 miles between Lincoln and Worcester Cathedrals to raise money victims of domestic abuse. Gabor is a recognised expert in social housing development work and complex funding, having led on the securitisation of more than £1 billion of affordable housing over the last five years. Gabor also advises private sector developers, funders and public bodies in helping them partner with housing associations.

Quickbase – Mark Dillon, Senior Vice President, Partnerships & International

Projects today face unprecedented external challenges from supplier uncertainty, labour shortages, evolving building standards, and rising costs. While development professionals lack the ability to affect their external circumstances, the systems they have in place to adapt and innovate are entirely under their control. In this discussion, learn how to promote visibility within your organisation and why your ability to see, connect, and control your project data is the difference between completing a build on-time and within budget or not.