Western Gateway Development Conference; In partnership with Atkins

Legal & General Investment Management – Tom Roberts, Head of Strategic Investment

Legal and General have committed over £750m into new schemes across the South West of the UK and join the event to discuss how their work will underpin wider Western Gateway growth plans. Delegates will be updated on the £350m Temple Island Development in Bristol and also fresh £400m investment into Cardiff.

Socius – Olaide Oboh, Director

In partnership with Railpen, Socius are set to deliver their second major Cambridge City Centre scheme, a 500,000 sq ft, £500m sustainable commercial project. Adjacent to the Botanic Gardens. The development expands their East of England footprint following plans for a £160m mixed use scheme at Devonshire Gardens and £180m MK Gateway project. Olaide will be joining the session to discuss current development plans in the region.

Associated British Ports – Andrew Clarke, Group Head of Masterplanning

Andrew is Group Head of Masterplanning at Associated British Ports (ABP), joining ABP in April 2018.  Prior to working at ABP, Andrew was a Senior Associate at Peter Brett Associates, where he worked on infrastructure planning and economic strategy projects for a range of clients including HS2 and the Mayor of London.  Andrew is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and holds a Post-graduate Diploma in Surveying from the University of Reading, alongside MA qualifications from the University of Westminster and the University of Cambridge.  Most recently, Andrew has been responsible for the development of masterplans at ABP’s South Wales ports.

Western Gateway Board – Katherine Bennett CBE, Chair

As Chair of the Western Gateway board, Katherine is perfectly placed to give the region an international profile as it prioritises investment into infrastructure, housing and industry. She joins the event to set the context for board priorities and to engage with private sector entities who can help with delivery. Katherine is also Chief Executive of High Value Manufacturing Catapult, established to provide research, development and innovation centres to transform UK manufacturing.

Wildfox Resorts – Claire Pearce, Director of Planning & Economic Development

Gravity’s ‘Wildfox Resorts’ development in the Afan Valley, Port Talbot, is aiming to create over 1000 jobs in the region. Following £250 million investment , in a 50-bed hotel, spa, restaurant, viewing area, 570 lodges, biking and walking trail. Claire – director will be joining the session to discuss regeneration and revitalisation of towns, cities and valleys within Wales.

The Bristol Port Company – David Brown, Chief Executive

The Bristol Port Company is a key driver of economic growth in the Western Gateway, enabling the import of 550,000 vehicles, 27% of the UK’s aviation fuel and 25% of animal feed annually. There are over 1,000 acres of development land in the vicinity of the port – the largest brownfield development site in Western Europe and David will discuss the port’s ongoing expansion plans.

Bath & North East Somerset Council – Wendy Maden, Principal Urban Designer

Bath & Northeast Somerset Council is in process of revitalising their high streets, with town centre and high street projects in Bath, Keynsham, Radstock and Midsomer Norton to be carried out. The Council are also planning an ambitious regeneration of Milsom Quarter in Bath, which will see 180 new homes developed and the transformation of the area into a nationally renowned fashion destination centred around a new location for the museum.

Hydrogen South West – David Eccles CBE, Co-Ordinator

Currently leading Hydrogen South West – a consortium that includes Airbus, easyJet, GKN, Wood, Costain, Bristol Airport, Bristol Port, Wales & West Utilities and EDF Hynamics – David is looking to grow the hydrogen ecosystem in the region. He joins the conference to discuss some of the development initiatives being undertaken to support their ambition.

University of Bristol – Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor Evelyn Welch is the newly appointed Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, taking up her post in September 2022. The University are currently moving forward with their £300m Temple Quarter Innovation Campus project will be home to 3,000 students and 800 university staff, business and community partners when it opens at the end of 2025 and deliver an estimated £626 million of employment and financial benefit to the regional economy over the next decade. It will also host landmark new initiatives such as MyWorld, a £46 million Bristol-led programme which will position the South West as an international trailblazer in screen-based media; creating new research and development facilities.

Taylor Wimpey Bristol – Keith Simmons, Managing Director

Keith is the Divisional Managing Director for Taylor Wimpey’s Wales, West and Midlands Division. Taylor Wimpey are  currently plotting to develop 115 homes in Gillingham at a site on New Road. They have also received outline planning approval for up to 1,000 dwelling on land north of Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. Keith joins us to share insight into the schemes and discuss Taylor Wimpey’s wider plans for the region.

Bristol Zoological Society – Michael Coe, Commercial Director

Bristol Zoological Society are undertaking the twin project of relocating Bristol Zoo to its ‘Wild Place’ project site outside the city whilst closing and redeveloping the Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton. An estimated £48m million will be invested into the new Bristol Zoo site, to be financed by a residential led development of the Clifton site. This will see 200 new homes created, with the character of the gardens enhanced and the creation of a new community and exhibition space.

Marine Energy Wales – Jetske Germing, Managing Director

Marine Energy Wales brings together technology developers, the supply chain, academia and the public sector to establish Wales as a global leader in sustainable marine energy generation, making a significant contribution to a low carbon economy. With £159.6 million invested into the marine renewable energy sector in Wales to date, a consented large scale tidal stream demonstration zone and a leased wave energy demonstration zone, seabed agreements in place for separate wave and tidal stream projects, a number of proposals for significant floating offshore wind projects and a government commitment to the development of first of its kind tidal lagoon, Wales is well positioned to play a global leading role in marine energy.

Redrow – Grant Strong, Special Projects Manager

Plasdŵr is Cardiff’s garden city for the 21^st Century, combining the very best of town and country. Over the next generation, around 7,000 homes of all types and tenures will be created, all united by the high-quality design required of the original garden cities. Up to 30% of these will be affordable homes. Regeneration totalling hundreds of millions of pound will be detailed by Grant.

DST Innovation – Joanna Pontin, Executive Vice President

DST’s £1.7 billion Blue Eden Project is the ground-breaking scheme proposed for Swansea’s waterfront which will include a newly-designed tidal lagoon, featuring state-of-the-art underwater turbines generating 320 megawatts of renewable energy from the 9.5km structure. All the project’s buildings and facilities, including the eco-homes, will be situated alongside the lagoon and will utilise and enhance the existing land in the area. Blue Eden will create over 2,500 permanent jobs and support a further 16,000 jobs across Wales and the UK, while creating additional jobs during its construction and Joanna will join the conference to reveal more intel on their plans for this scheme and its role in creating tomorrow’s net zero Wales.

Bristol City Council – Cllr Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes

Bristol City Council are working with their partners to deliver a number of large scale regeneration projects across the city including the ambitious Temple Quarter project, which will deliver up to 10,000 homes and 22,000 new jobs. The council are also implementing the important Project 1000 Affordable Housing delivery plan under which they will work with partners to speed up the delivery of affordable homes with a target of 1,000 per year by 2024. Tom will  join us to give and update on the Temple Quarter masterplan and the housing delivery plan.

Watkin Jones – Tristram Ford, Director

Tristram Ford is a Director in the Divestment team at Watkin Jones Group where he focuses on the divestment of BTR and PBSA assets. Tristram has more than 8 years’ experience in real estate, having qualified as a commercial property solicitor in August 2014 with King & Wood Mallesons and subsequently worked for US property specialist Greenberg Traurig. Most recently, Tristram was the lead associate in the Knight Frank BTR team, advising developers and institutional investors on the development and funding of BTR projects across the UK.

GW4 Alliance – Dr Katie Lidster, Research Development Manager (Net Zero)

The GW4 Alliance is a consortium of four of the most research-intensive and innovative universities in the UK: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. They have recently entered into a new strategic partnership with the Western Gateway Partnership to drive green and economical regional growth. Under the partnership South West England and South Wales is to become the UK’s first Hydrogen Ecosystem, leading the development of low carbon energy to help achieve climate targets.

GFirst LEP – Ruth Dooley, Chair

Ruth is leading the charge on supporting digital infrastructure investment across the South West with the aim of supporting a growth in skills and job opportunities. As part of the event she will provide a private sector insight into what key priorities for the towns and cities of the Gateway and next steps for realising inclusive economic growth.

Western Gateway Independent Business Board – Ben Pritchard, Member

Reporting to the Welsh Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Ben is tasked with unlocking a plethora of transport and green infrastructure projects for South Wales but also connecting the region to South West England and beyond. Ben joins the conference to give his thoughts on the progress of various schemes and harnessing public and private sector partnerships to finance major schemes.

Newport City Council – Cllr Jane Mudd, Leader

Newport has one of the most significant regeneration programmes in the UK, with investments delivering huge transformation and creating new business opportunities. The flagship programme is the £1bn, 20 year masterplan which is reliant on an integrated transport strategy featuring new road links, cycle routes, footpaths and bus services. It is hoped the blueprint for the project can demonstrate the benefits of other major infrastructure investment across the South West.

Swindon Council – Cllr David Renard, Leader

With 6 key sites being prioritised for investment within Swindon town centre and the ambition to deliver thousands of new homes per year to alleviate a housing crisis and attract talent to the region, it’s an exciting time for Swindon. The council are being flexible in their approach to delivering housing, ranging from repurposing derelict sites with the town centre to supporting private sector brownfield ideas, Cllr Renard joins to detail plans and discuss Swindon’s wider role in the Western Gateway.

Openreach – Connie Dixon, Partnership Director, Wales and West of England

Connie is responsible for leading a number of Government and commercially funded digital infrastructure programmes, leading on strategic partnerships and identifying opportunities to accelerate infrastructure build. Openreach run the UK’s digital network. they’re the people who connect homes, mobile phone masts, schools, shops, banks, hospitals, libraries, broadcasters, governments and businesses – large and small – to the world. It’s their mission to build the best possible digital network with the highest quality of service, and make sure that everyone in the UK can be connected. They’re already delivering a multibillion pound investment to upgrade the UK’s broadband infrastructure to 25 million homes  and businesses, upgrading more than 8 million already-  including in both urban and rural areas from across the Western Gateway region. Digital connectivity has been never been more important. Research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) had previously shown that Full Fibre could provide a real boost to communities across the country and boost labour productivity by nearly £59 billion by 2025.

Mott MacDonald – Brendon Baker, Urban Planner and Built Environment Lead, Wales

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy focused on improving society by considering social outcomes in all we do. This extends to combating the causes and effects of climate change. We view everything through a climate lens, in all our projects — seeking out new and more effective solutions. Mott MacDonald is part of the Net-Zero Infrastructure Industry Coalition, looking at the interplay between national and local government as the UK steps up its decarbonisation ambitions. Through our leadership on a place-based approach to net zero, Mott MacDonald has collaborated with central government, devolved administrations, city government, and the energy and transport sectors to consider net zero through a ‘systems thinking’ lens – considering the multiple, complex systems that influence momentum and implementation of the net zero agenda.

Atkins, member of the SNC-Lavalin Group – Alan Jarvie, Director for the Midlands, South West and Wales region and National Sector Director for Education

Alan is a Market Director for the Midlands, South West and Wales region and National Sector Director for Education for Atkins. He has been based in Bristol for the last 12 years and has over 35 years’ experience within the design and construction industry, with an extensive knowledge of many market sectors and working with both private and public clients. His key experience is developing new and existing business and as a regional business leader. He firmly believes in local investment, improving communities through focused social value and leaving a last legacy.

Built Environment Networking – Amanda Griffiths, Director

Amanda is one of the Co-Founder’s of Built Environment Networking – formed almost 10 years ago.

She’ll be hosting throughout the day, running the days proceedings and managing the interaction between our delegates and the speakers.

Gridserve – Raoul Tufnell, Chief Development Officer

Raoul Tufnell is part of GRIDSERVE Sustainable Energy’s Leadership Team tasked with delivering critical power projects that will make a significant contribution to addressing human’s adverse impact on our climate.  He is a Chartered Planner and development specialist who has been working within the built environment for over 15 years.  Following initial years in development consultancy as part of the global multi-disciplinary firm Hyder plc, he moved Client side during the renewable energy revolution.  He has since designed and delivered infrastructure development strategies for electric vehicle charging infrastructure (including GRIDSERVE’s award winning Electric Forecourt®) and ground-mounted solar and energy storage projects and has most recently brought the two infrastructure classes together as part of GRIDSERVE’s ‘Sun to Wheel’ business model.  He is passionate about bringing forward assets that can be built, operated, and maintained to the standards conceived and with sustainability at their heart.