Development Partner Search Begins for Festival Gardens, Liverpool
Montagu Evans appoints Bhav Shah as DE&I head
Montagu Evans has appointed Partner, Bhavini Shah, as its new Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
She begins her new role this month, drawing on a decade of experience in the partnership as a healthcare property specialist in its Advisory team and longstanding DE&I advocate. Previous roles at the firm include Partner sponsor for Open Circle, Montagu Evans’ internal network for ethnically diverse employees, and DE&I committee member for the last four years.
Bhav will develop a DE&I strategy that will engage and integrate deeply with the firm’s objectives, using data and insight gathered through engagement with team members, clients and industry stakeholders. Montagu Evans’ Corporate Responsibility report, combining Sustainability and DE&I for the first time, will be published in the autumn.
Reporting to Vicky Thompson, Director of HR and member of the Montagu Evans’ Executive Committee, Bhav will work alongside Head of Sustainability Oli Pye as well as the firm’s Managing Partner and other groups, including Open Circle, Enable:ME and ME:Pride. Externally, RICS, RTPI, We Rise In, PREACH Inclusion, Real Estate Balance and Freehold remain important partners.
Alan Harris, Head of Advisory and incoming Managing Partner, at Montagu Evans said: “With a clear understanding of our partnership based on 10+ years’ progression and experience, Bhav has advocated a bold and systematic approach to furthering our DE&I strategy. She will provide clear direction, inspire the business and ensure our Partnership makes progress in this important area. Many at Monties know her to be an authentic and passionate leader and she has everyone’s full support in this new role.”
Bhav Shah, Head of DE&I at Montagu Evans, said: “A number of years of leaning into the DE&I space in conjunction with my role as a surveyor, made me realise there was a passion for inclusion that could become a larger part of my working life. With a strong commercial understanding, my vision is to create an authentically inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can bring their best selves to work. I will use my lived intersectional experience, combined with internal and external stakeholder engagement, to support these goals as part of this new opportunity for change.”
Montagu Evans Welcomes 2024 Early Careers Cohort
Montagu Evans has this week welcomed its 2024 early careers cohort.
Two apprentices and thirteen graduates will work across the partnership’s key areas, from planning and historic environments to advisory and agency roles. This includes three former apprentices who have completed their three-year journey and transitioned into the 2024 graduate scheme. For the first time, two graduates will pursue the planning and development pathway to provide a wide grounding in two of the partnership’s specialist areas.
This year’s graduates are: Anna Thomas, Charlotte Salt, Ellana Woodley, Elsa Camara, Finlay Johnman, Holly Niemy, Jack Winterton, James Harding, Jamil Saiyed, Luke Ralph, Milo Herbert, Ted Drayson and Tommy Cooney.
This year’s apprentices are: Abdullah Malik and Rickayla Williams.
With dedicated support in the form of managers, mentors and ongoing training, all are continuing a qualification pathway, with an established programme in place to help their ongoing development.
Cherise Thornicroft, Early Careers Manager at Montagu Evans, said, “We believe in welcoming new talent into the partnership at every level, fostering a collaborative environment where fresh ideas and thinking thrive. These young professionals from a wide range of disciplines will now start robust, market-leading programmes to support their career development and we look forward to seeing the impact they’ll make in their new roles.”
In addition to these graduate and apprentice appointments, Montagu Evans offered twelve summer intern places this year, including students from the 10,000 Black Interns programme, as well as others applying through its website. The internship provided interns with a wide grounding in the partnership’s specialist areas.
MONTAGU EVANS ELECTS NEW MANAGING PARTNER
Montagu Evans has announced Alan Harris as its new Managing Partner, following Rob Bower’s decision to retire from the Partnership on 31 March 2025 after ten years in the role.
Currently head of Montagu Evans’ Advisory Department, he will become the firm’s tenth Managing Partner since its founding in 1921. The appointment runs for an initial four-year term from 1 April 2025.
With a background in development consultancy and a focus on complex, mixed-use projects often in town centres, Alan works with local authorities, public bodies, developers and institutional investors, progressing regeneration programmes with a slant towards capital strategies. He has headed the Partnership’s town centre and public sector groups and helped develop the firm’s growth strategy including relocation to the City of London in 2019. He joined its Executive Committee in 2014 and was appointed Head of Advisory in 2022.
Rob Bower said: “Alan is a longstanding Partner at the firm and a proven leader of the business. He has already been a major part of our success and growth to date and is well-known across the industry. I’m delighted he is the Partnership’s next Managing Partner, and I look forward to watching the firm go from strength to strength over the next four years and beyond.
“Alan and I will now be working side-by-side until March 2025 – focussed on clients, Partners and staff to understand their priorities and focus on further growth and opportunity in the five years ahead. Meanwhile, it’s very much business as usual for our planning, advisory and transactional teams. Activity remains strong, and major instructions continue to come in as we strengthen our planning and development focus in both the public and private sectors.”
Alan Harris, incoming Managing Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “This is a fantastic business with exceptional people. From the day I set foot here 23 years ago, I have been proud to be part of its journey and growth.
“Rob has been an outstanding Managing Partner for the last decade and I’ve enjoyed working closely with him to help grow the Partnership.
“Being elected by my peers as the tenth Managing Partner is a great honour. I am truly proud to be given this opportunity to work with all our Partners to build on what we already have within the business and to capitalise on the ambition that I see every day across all generations of the Partnership.”
Longstanding clients of Montagu Evans include abrdn, Aviva Investors, Barratts, CBRE IM, Crown Estate, London Square, Regal London and SEGRO, as well as Homes England, the NHS, Network Rail, DIO, TfL and a number of London and UK-wide local authorities. The Partnership is currently advising on regeneration schemes including Camden Film Quarter; Bow Goods Yard, Orchard Wharf and Royal Albert Dock in East London; Festival Gardens in Liverpool, and other major sites nationwide – from estate regeneration to major new settlements. It has recently helped to secure planning approval for landmark sites, including the former WWII Kingsway Tunnels, significant new homes at Westfield London and major commercial space close to Stansted Airport, as well as providing historic environment and townscape consultancy for projects, including the Grade II listed gasholders repurposing in Bromley-by-Bow and Smithfield market in Birmingham.
MONTAGU EVANS APPOINTS NEW HISTORIC ENVIRONMENTS HEAD
Planning and development consultancy Montagu Evans has appointed Partner Dr Timur Tatlioglu to head its Historic Environment and Townscape team.
Sitting within the partnership’s Planning Department, the market-leading team comprises experts in heritage, urban design, and townscape matters who advise on complex development that often affects sensitive contexts in the built environment.
Acting for private developers as well as public bodies and charities in the education, arts and museum sectors, the team has a large portfolio of work across the UK with a focus on Greater London. It provides authoritative commercial advice informed by robust assessment, analysis of planning policy, and a dedicated research function.
Key projects range from extending the British Museum and bringing the Grade II* listed Victoria Palace Theatre back to life for the Hamilton production, as well as advising on major schemes, including the redevelopment of the Marks & Spencer flagship Oxford Street store; the National Holocaust Memorial adjacent to the Palace of Westminster; the 55 Bishopsgate tall building in the City of London and a landscape-led masterplan for Highgate Cemetery. The team recently advised Westfield on a major new residential scheme in West London; Lendlease on the £1.9bn regeneration of Birmingham’s Smithfield market; and St William on the transformation of the Bromley-by-Bow listed gasholder site in East London.
The team’s seven Partners form part of a 25-strong group overall, and includes Dr Chris Miele who founded the service line in the late 2000s. It has recently expanded with the appointment of Paul Kesslar-Lyne, who has rejoined the firm as an Associate.
Craig Blatchford, Partner and Head of Planning at Montagu Evans, said: “This team has unmatched experience and expertise in the heritage and townscape arena, specialising in high profile and complex projects that require experience to deliver. It understands how those places work, how they can be adapted, and how to achieve a deliverable and sustainable future.
“We are pleased to announce Timur as the new head of the team. With considerable experience and a track record of leading high-profile projects, he has the vision to drive the growth of this truly stand-out group of professionals.
“We also thank Chris Miele for his continued, outstanding contribution to the partnership. He is a true expert in his field, and I am pleased that he will continue in his current role providing exceptional advice for major clients of the business.”
Dr Timur Tatlioglu, Partner at Montagu Evans, added: “Our team has become synonymous with helping clients navigate challenging sites in often highly sensitive locations. This has been made possible by our expertise, the blend of long experience and academic rigour, and the commercial acumen that comes from being part of a wider property consultancy. It will be a privilege to lead such a successful team, having been part of the group for over a decade.”
For more information, please visit our dedicated Historic Environment and Townscape website area here.
MAJOR EMPLOYMENT-LED REGENERATION TURNING SCALE AND VISION INTO A THRIVING NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD
There are few urban development sites in the UK – let alone in London – that offer up to 400,000 sq m of new development space in a single cleared site, but the 30-acre (12ha) Royal Albert Dock opportunity, coming to market this year, is that rare example.
The Greater London Authority (GLA), advised by Montagu Evans, is seeking an innovative master development partner to deliver a transformational new employment-led, mixed-use vision as London moves Eastwards.
The scope is broad, the opportunity significant. High-value growth sectors – green technology, data-driven uses and digital economy businesses could all have a place here – as could sport, leisure and cultural production – or light-industrial and manufacturing, logistics, workspace and education.
Combining a range of new and more traditional uses within the site is possible too, unlocking growth sectors through a resilient and diversified economic offer.
Key to the success of the project will be the bringing together of public and private sector stakeholders in a long-term partnership to secure the site’s legacy with the right team, experience and skills to deliver a transformational new place.
The stage is already set.
Royal Albert Dock is part of a priority growth area for the GLA. Approximately £5 billion of investment is planned for the area over the next 20 years providing 36,000 new homes and creating 55,000 new jobs across this historic part of East London. A new Royal Docks Delivery Plan (2024-2029) sets the vision and activities over the next 5 years, driving an ambitious programme of change and investment.
Significant road and rail infrastructure is already in place. Two DLR stations (Royal Albert DLR and Beckton Park DLR) are nearby, and the Elizabeth Line is 4 minutes away by DLR at Custom House.
Global connections are within easy reach too: London City Airport sits across the water, six minutes away by road.
Other major anchor institutions such as Tate & Lyle, ExCeL London and the University of East London are all located here, reinforcing the location as a strategically important economic centre for London. City Hall also relocated to the Royal Docks in 2022, signalling a substantial realignment of the city’s cultural, economic, and political centre of gravity.
And the site sits within the capital’s only Enterprise Zone, ensuring new business rates income generated will be reinvested in the area to support further economic activity and social value initiatives.
Above all there is an enthusiasm here to explore the range of possibilities that this large-scale, development-ready piece of the capital could achieve when it comes to employment-led regeneration This is an opportunity to deliver growth and jobs, as well as new homes and cultural and leisure activity, at nationally-significant scale.
Procurement of a new development partner is being led by the Royal Docks Team (a joint initiative from the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Newham) on behalf of GLA Land and Property (GLAP) as freeholder. More detail can be found here.
The Royal Docks Team and Montagu Evans will be attending UKREiiF from 21-23 May 2024.
MANAGING PARTNER UPDATE: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN THE YEAR AHEAD
Last year I set out to the firm that I would be standing down as Managing Partner at the end of March 2025, a decade after I first had the privilege of taking on this role.
I’m proud to have served nearly 30 years at Montagu Evans in all, a place I fondly recognise as my second home. However, this is the right time to hand over to the next generation of leadership at our fantastic partnership.
The process for electing my successor has begun, with the nominations process well underway. We expect to announce our new Managing Partner this summer, with the role formally starting on 1 April 2025 after a structured transition period.
Over the last year we have been working with external consultants, PSFI, to help shape the future of our business, taking into account all our partners’ views and the feedback we get every year from our clients.
We are one of the strongest LLPs in the UK real estate market and our focus on solving clients’ planning and development challenges has been a key part of that success.
Clients increasingly want the trusted advisor relationship that they get by working closely with partners who are passionate about what they do and which comes, in part, from having a stake in their own business. It’s a model that supports the very best talent who can shape their career as far as their ambitions will take them.
Being the Managing Partner in this type of true partnership is very different to the role of CEO or Managing Director at a corporate. As the first among equals, it’s about ensuring collaboration, consensus and bringing together a range of people and skills into a team where, together, we are stronger than the sum of our parts. And it’s this which sets Montagu Evans apart: collaboration and partnership is in our DNA.
As I look back, there’s a lot we can be proud of. In addition to our connected and collaborative approach, we’ve expanded significantly in 10 years, adding many talented people – from graduates through to partners. We have increased our emphasis on living, industrial/logistics and healthcare, particularly across London and Scotland, and we are delivering significant, transformative schemes across the country, thriving on complex and challenging opportunities where we can combine strategic approaches with specialist thinking – from major urban renewal and tall buildings to docks and airport-led regeneration to portfolio growth and asset repositioning. We’ve grown across both the public and private sectors and we are now one of the UK’s pre-eminent advisors for clients with planning and development challenges.
As with any leadership role, there have been some tough decisions to make too, with Brexit, Covid and the market downturn from mid-2022. We have had to get through challenging markets and unprecedented global upheaval, especially in the last few years and I suspect their impacts are not yet fully over. Changes to our business have never been made lightly and we continue to take sensible decisions that are in the best interest of our partnership as a whole and, notwithstanding short-term challenges, will set our leaders on a stronger course for the years ahead.
I’m sure that Montagu Evans will continue to evolve and succeed as we respond to new ways of working, new clients, new opportunities and many other ways to secure our legacy for another 100 years – and more.
And for me, these changes will mean the chance to recharge after an intense few years, and then to pursue a portfolio career within the real estate sector. There is still more to do.
Right now, though, we are focused on ensuring as little disruption as possible to our teams and clients as they continue to do what they do best and we set up the partnership for its next phase of growth. Change brings opportunity, and I’m looking forward to keeping in touch and seeing what our next generation has to offer as they build on our legacy further in the many years ahead.
LGIM ACQUIRES PRIME, INDEXED TESCO FOODSTORE INVESTMENT
Legal & General Investment Management’s (LGIM’s) Managed Fund, headed by Rob Codling, Senior Fund Manager, have acquired Tesco Yarrow Road Poole from clients of abrdn for £46.1m. The transaction reflects an effective net initial yield of 7.75%.
The 95,000 sq ft store, together with 16-pump petrol filling station and 599 car spaces, is accessibly located at the heart of the Poole Bournemouth conurbation, next to the destination Tower Leisure Park. 19 online fulfilment vans operate from the store, and there is also a substantial click-and-collect facility.
The entire property is let to Tesco Stores Ltd for a further seven years and the rent is subject to annual uplifts in line with RPI 0-4%.
Rob Codling, Senior Fund Manager, LGIM said: “This is a great acquisition for the fund, which we believe will provide a strong return for our investors. The store is well located and its prospects of continued high-performance, suits the long-term investment objectives of our clients.
Commenting on the transaction, Montagu Evans’ Partner and supermarket investment specialist Mark Girling said: “The purchase is attractive to our client firstly due to the well located and accessible site at the centre of the Poole Bournemouth conurbation, secondly being a strong trading store for both physical and online sales and thirdly, having the benefit of annual inflation proofed income secured on the investment grade credit of Tesco Stores Limited. This profile fulfils the client Fund’s income and fundamental asset quality requirements at the present time.
abrdn was advised by Morgan Williams. Montagu Evans advised L&G.
MONTAGU EVANS BOOSTS STRATEGIC ADVISORY CAPABILITY WITH NEW PARTNER HIRE
Planning and development consultancy Montagu Evans continues to grow its Strategic Advisory team with the appointment of Adam Caplan as Partner.
Caplan will deliver complex strategic projects across public and private sectors, working closely with Montagu Evans’ clients who need specialist advice. He will provide surveying and consultancy skills to provide joined-up solutions from the early stages of any planning and development project to bring about positive change. He joins the partnership from CBRE, where he was a Director in its Strategic Transformation team delivering advisory and transaction-based projects for clients, landlords and investors.
Montagu Evans’ 15-strong Strategic Advisory team works with a breadth of public and private sector clients to solve complex problems and unlock challenges that help to improve the performance of clients’ real estate and the business operations that support it. It works with a diverse range of clients, including the GLA across the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, Network Rail, London Borough of Lambeth, LaSalle Investment Management, CEG and The Crown Estate in order to create the vision, enable development and evolve places to ensure that place-making initiatives are financially viable, well-designed, market-oriented, community-driven and effectively managed.
Isabel Miller has recently joined the same team as a Research Analyst reporting to Montagu Evans’ Head of Strategic Insight, Jon Neale. Morgan Reece, also in Strategic Advisory, who specialises in socio and economic development, was promoted to Partner on 1 April this year.
Jenny Rydon, Partner at Montagu Evans and head of its Strategic Advisory team, said: “As the sector evolves and markets continue to shift, we have seen organisational priorities begin to better align their real estate with their corporate objectives against a backdrop of social, environmental and economic aspects where the measurable impact is greater than the commercial drivers. This means that early-stage strategic advice and an in-depth understanding of client operations is critical to tackling complex issues with creativity and collaboration.
“Adam will be particularly good at developing a broad understanding of client challenges and bringing together the right specialist teams from within our partnership to creatively identify and implement the right solutions. He will be able to draw on his experience across both the public and private sectors – from business owners and major landlords to public sector bodies and occupiers – to share learnings and innovations in order to add meaningful value across the board.
Adam is a Fellow of the RICS.
NEW FRAMEWORK MASTERPLAN APPROVED FOR PROMINENT STRATFORD-UPON-AVON GATEWAY SITE, ANCHORED BY PROPOSED “WORLD SHAKESPEARE CENTRE”
Stratford-on-Avon District Council has formally adopted a new framework masterplan to open up a key gateway area to the northwest of Stratford-Upon-Avon town centre, aimed at increasing cultural and tourism opportunities around William Shakespeare’s connection with the historic town.
The gateway site includes the provision of a ‘World Shakespeare Centre’ promoted by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to celebrate the life and work of the world-renowned dramatist and anchor a broader mix of town centre uses and enhanced public realm, complementing Shakespeare’s Birthplace, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and other cultural attractions around the town.
The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was developed by Corstorphine & Wright in conjunction with the district council and following significant public consultation. Planning and development consultancy Montagu Evans provided the Historic, Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment report, which helped inform key elements of the framework masterplan SPD, including recommendations on the scale and how the design should respond to the context.
The framework masterplan set out in the SPD will become a material planning consideration for the site, providing certainty to developers and shaping future development. It establishes high-level design principles and provides a vision for high-quality and sustainable regeneration of the site.
Jonathan Tarbatt, Director of Urban Design at Corstorphine & Wright, said: “Regenerating this underused and unattractive site will put in place a ‘new piece of town’ for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The SPD provides assurance that the development comes forward in a coordinated manner that ensures the World Shakespeare Centre, other mixed uses and wider public realm improvements are delivered through a comprehensive framework masterplan taking account of potential phasing scenarios and interim uses.”
Lucy Markham, Partner in Montagu Evans’ Historic Environment and Townscape team, added: “Stratford-upon-Avon is an important historic town with a vast cultural legacy and many heritage assets that contribute to its attractiveness and economic prosperity. This new SPD sets out both planning and design guidelines that will help ensure new regeneration makes a positive contribution to the town’s wider historic context and supports the long-term future of its numerous listed buildings. It will also act as a blueprint for future developers, showing how they can reinvigorate the important Gateway site in a viable and sustainable way whilst preserving the character and distinct identity of the town overall.”