When I joined Montagu Evans 25 years ago, I wasn’t thinking about becoming Managing Partner. I didn’t map out a career path with titles in mind, I was focused on solving client challenges. That mindset has shaped every step of my journey and continues to drive me today.

We’ve spent the last decade building a resilient platform and we’re in a strong position right now, ready to leap from it. Thanks to thoughtful planning and financial stewardship, we’ve weathered uncertainty and continued to invest in the systems, capabilities and expertise that power our business. We’re in a strong position today because of the groundwork we’ve laid. Now, it’s time to build on that foundation with momentum and make a meaningful difference.

We are entering a pivotal chapter: smart, sustainable growth to be outstanding together, for our clients.

More than ever, our five-year strategy focuses on unlocking the potential of high-value, complex assets. We’re focusing on areas where complexity creates opportunity and where we have the greatest conviction.

• Residential: tackling the UK housing shortage by unlocking land and enabling delivery.
• Public Sector: driving estate transformation and optimising long-term value for the public purse.
• Industrial & Logistics: enhancing strategic assets that power modern economies.
• Central London: leading complex repositioning to deliver resilient, high-performing assets.

We already have the team to deliver this: people who bring clarity, creativity and ownership to every project. But we’re also welcoming new talent to strengthen our culture and role model our strategy. People who thrive when clients have ambition and need decisive action.

Culture underpins all of this. Everyone contributes. Our values – rooted in diversity, equity and inclusion – remain central.

Looking ahead, we’ll be bolder, working to create greater impact at every turn. Nimble enough to give the right advice quickly, but with the scale and specialisms to deliver on complex opportunities nationwide. We believe that strategic thinking and deep expertise can challenge convention and deliver meaningful outcomes.

Backed by significant Partner investment and a strong leadership team, we have the mandate and momentum to grow at scale and bring on more outstanding people at every level.

Over the last 25 years, I’ve always known this was a special business. From day one, I’ve seen the strength of Montagu Evans is in its people; talented individuals who care about the work we do, the clients we serve and the culture we shape together. That belief has only grown stronger over time. I’ve always been proud to be part of its journey and I’m even more excited for where we’re heading next.

We’re ready to unlock greater value for clients, shape the future of property and grow together, moving forward with all our people aligned in one direction, as one firm. The next chapter starts now.

Last month, the London Real Estate Forum (LREF) brought together more than 2,000 industry leaders to explore one of the most pressing themes in urban development today: partnership delivery. As cities face increasingly complex challenges, it’s clear that only through deeper collaboration between public and private sectors can we deliver the best outcomes for communities and stakeholders alike.

Montagu Evans was proud to participate in this year’s Forum, co-hosting a closed roundtable with Estates Gazette focused on the State of Regeneration – a theme central to our upcoming research led by Jon Neale, due for release in November. The roundtable, covered in Estates Gazette’s article Rewriting the Regeneration Rulebook, brought together voices from across the sector to discuss the future of urban transformation.

Jon was joined by Oliver Maury at the roundtable, with Matthew Hayes and Simon Mole also representing our team across the wider Forum. To capture the most valuable insights, we asked our attendees to share their key takeaways – particularly around partnership delivery, the residential market, and the future of regeneration. Here’s what they had to say:

Skills, Capacity and the Role of Devolution

Oliver Maury highlighted the growing challenge of skills and capacity within the regeneration sector. Here’s what he had to say:

“As devolution progresses, the regeneration sector faces a growing challenge around skills and capacity. Many local authorities are taking on increasingly complex delivery roles, but without the right expertise, progress risks stalling. We need stronger regional collaboration to share best practice and build networks – and clarity on how Homes England’s role will evolve in this new landscape. Infrastructure funding remains a critical barrier, and without targeted grant support, many schemes simply won’t get off the ground.”

Market Realities and the Need for Clarity

Matthew Hayes reflected on the current sentiment across the residential market, describing it as challenging – a view echoed by developers and investors at the roundtable.

“The residential market remains very difficult, and while there are signs of recovery in other sectors, unlocking new housing starts will require decisive leadership from central government. We need clarity on affordable housing (policy, tenure and grant), developer taxes and contributions, and regulation (planning and Building Safety). At LREF, it was encouraging to see boroughs showcasing ambitious growth plans – Enfield’s Meridian Water and Crews Hill (now identified as a potential New Town) are great examples – but delivery will be highly challenging. The Bakerloo Line Extension exhibited again this year and infrastructure projects like this are vital to unlock growth, yet it remains unfunded. We need joined-up thinking across all these issues to turn ambition into delivery.”

Housing Delivery and Regulatory Hurdles

Simon Mole joined a roundtable focused on compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and housing delivery, where the conversation quickly turned to the alarmingly low number of housing starts in London this year.

“Housing starts in London are low, and developers are increasingly frustrated by delays linked to fire safety regulations – especially around second staircases. Viability remains a major concern. At the same time, councils are struggling to fund essential community infrastructure through Section 106, which is becoming less effective as housing delivery slows. We need new financial models and regulatory clarity to get things moving again.”

Bringing Residential Expertise Together

As the Forum made clear, the residential market remains central to regeneration – but navigating it requires more than sector-specific expertise. Montagu Evans takes a Residential:Connected approach, offering clients a unified perspective across the entire residential lifecycle.

Whether working with landowners, investors, developers, or local authorities, our team helps unlock value through strategic site selection, data-driven insight, and deep market understanding. We support clients in capitalising on emerging models, navigating affordability and regulatory pressures, and fostering successful partnerships – from public sector estates to CPO and land assembly.

In a market defined by complexity, our connected approach ensures that opportunities aren’t missed and that regeneration delivers lasting impact.

Read more here

Looking Ahead: Shaping the Future of Regeneration

The London Real Estate Forum, and the roundtable hosted with Estates Gazette, underscored the urgent need for innovative partnerships, strategic leadership, and targeted investment to address the challenges facing our cities. From skills shortages and funding gaps to regulatory complexity and market uncertainty, the path to successful regeneration is far from straightforward.

Our upcoming State of Regeneration report, led by Jon Neale and launching in November, will explore these themes in greater depth – examining how regeneration models are evolving, the impact of policy shifts, and the practical steps needed to unlock sustainable urban growth.

The message from our team, and from the sector more broadly, is clear: working together across sectors, regions, and disciplines will be vital if we are to tackle the present challenges and deliver regeneration of any scale in the medium term.

 

Attic Self Storage, advised by Montagu Evans, has been given the go ahead by London Borough of Lambeth’s planning committee to develop self-storage at its new site in Battersea, which is part of its growing London portfolio.

Located on Clyston Street, part of an established industrial area off the Wandsworth Road, Attic’s twelfth site will provide over 6,000 sqm of self-storage space in a 4-6 storey building, with ancillary office accommodation, car parking and cycle parking. Renewable energy, a green roof and sustainable drainage measures are all part of the design, which will integrate with the surrounding area and target BREEAM Excellent.

Established in 2008, Attic Self Storage currently operates eight modern self-storage stores across London for a range of business and personal storage uses. A further three are under construction.

Robin Vaughan, Development Director, Attic Self Storage, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for Attic Battersea. This outcome is a reflection of the hard work and collaboration between our planning partners, Lambeth Council and the Attic team.  We are proud to be able to play a part in the redevelopment of this area of Lambeth and the provision of high-quality self-storage to cater for the growing needs of local residents.”   

Montagu Evans was the planning consultant for the scheme and also provided Townscape and socio-economic advice for the application.

Kirill Malkin, Partner lead and industrial & logistics planning specialist at Montagu Evans, said: “This is an important strategic location for Attic responding to growing London-wide demand. The plans will revitalise an underused brownfield site with a sustainable, high-quality facility that responds to and integrates with the surrounding area, and meets the identified local need. The approved proposals reflect Attic’s positive and collaborative approach in working with the Council to deliver an exemplar development.”

Montagu Evans has brought to market a prime investment and development opportunity in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

1-3 Victoria Square occupies a 2.84-acre site opposite St Albans City railway station.

It comprises ‘The Gatehouse’, the 2,910 sq ft St Albans Register Office let to Hertfordshire County Council until 2034, alongside two offices: 2 and 3 Victoria Square, which extend to a total of 42,759 sq ft.

The historic site formerly housed St Albans Prison, which was built in 1867 and ‘The Gatehouse’ – formerly the governor’s residence – was used as the exterior of HMP Slade in the filming of the 1970s sitcom Porridge.

An office park was developed on the site in the 1990s.

Earlier this year, Montagu Evans’ planning and development teams helped obtain permitted development rights for the conversion of 2 and 3 Victoria Square to 55 apartments. PRP Architects has since prepared a feasibility study to consider optimisation, including potential extension and new build opportunities within the site.

Harry Charman, Senior Associate at Montagu Evans, said: “This is an excellent new investment and development opportunity, close to St Albans’ main commuter station with permitted development rights for new apartments already secured. A buyer is sought on an unconditional basis.”

For further information, including arranging access to the data room or scheduling a viewing, please contact us.

Montagu Evans has announced its latest round promotions as part of a continued focus on growth and progression within the partnership.

From the start of this month, 11 people take on new roles within the business:

• Matthew Boyd (Development Advisory), Tom Butler-Manuel (Residential Valuation), Harry Charman (Development Advisory), Jenni Cooper (Central London Planning), Matt Dickman (Development Advisory) Nick Pond (Historic Environments and Townscape) and Louisa Smith (Central London Planning) have been promoted to Senior Associate.
• Amelia Brook (Residential Valuation), Rachel McGall (Commercial Planning) and Hannah Polson (Valuation) have been promoted to Associate.
• Sophie Carty (Housing & Land Planning) has been promoted to Senior Planner.

Alan Harris, Managing Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “It is important for our business that we continue to create more opportunities to recognise talent and provide clear progression through the partnership. Congratulations to everyone starting a new role this month. Each promotion is a result of a consistent commitment to supporting our clients with deeper expertise and broadening skillsets, and all are richly deserved.”

Montagu Evans has made two appointments to its Executive Committee as the partnership gears up for further growth under new Managing Partner, Alan Harris.

• Julie Morrison (pictured on the right) joins the firm’s Executive Committee as Non-Executive Director. With 35 years’ experience working with professional services firms across industries, locations and scale, Julie’s background has included roles at KPMG, PwC and EY, where she was a partner in the London office. She has already worked closely with the Montagu Evans leadership on strategy development, engagement, performance and governance and now brings an experienced, external view to its 11-strong board.
• Anna Lind (pictured on the left) has been appointed as Director of Business Development and Marketing, also taking a seat on the partnership’s Executive Committee. With experience in legal and professional services and an MBA from Bayes Business School, Anna’s track record includes 12+ years at Norton Rose Fulbright and JLL, leading on client relationships and leveraging engagement and insight to drive business decisions and transformation. More recently, she has been focused on strategy and business transformation for international law firm RPC. At Montagu Evans, she will lead the firm’s business development, brand, marketing and communications functions, including bids, pitches and client engagement activity.

Alan Harris, Managing Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “We have entered a new phase of growth with a clear focus on the areas where our talented people can support clients’ ambitions most effectively. These specialist teams continue to tackle complex opportunities and unlock value across the public and private sectors UK-wide, and we remain committed to further investment that will allow us to achieve even more.

“Julie and Anna are outstanding appointments. They are very welcome additions to our leadership at an exciting time, and their expertise will add considerable value to the partnership as our plans take shape.”

Following a successful fully-Partner-funded capital-raise in autumn 2024 as a platform for growth, other senior hires include Amy Bracey and Kieran Webber in industrial & logistics; business rates specialists Julie Chalmers and Myles O’Brien; Jonny Stevenson in residential capital markets; Catherine Kidd in historic environments and townscape, and most recently Jonathan Essex in retail & leisure lease advisory – all joining as Partners. The firm’s latest Early Careers Cohort, including new graduates and apprentices, started earlier this month; internal promotions remain a focus, and recruitment at all levels in strategic business areas continues.

Plans for the city-wide regeneration of Southampton are moving a step forward with Southampton City Council’s selection of Montagu Evans as strategic development advisor.

The Southampton Renaissance Vision, unveiled in February 2025, is a long-term masterplan and prospectus produced by Prior + Partners alongside the Southampton Renaissance Board and Southampton City Council. It sets out a vision to transform the city centre, focusing on making Southampton a leading destination for investment, culture, innovation and resilience. The Renaissance Masterplan has identified capacity for up to 15,000 new homes, more than 2 million sq m of commercial and non-residential floorspace and supporting community infrastructure over the next two decades.

Montagu Evans and its team’s role is to support the move from vision to delivery: devising and executing delivery strategies for key development opportunities that will enable a comprehensive programme of regeneration across the city. Its work will include detailed technical analysis by the multi-disciplinary team, followed by the creation of project or area-specific strategies covering masterplanning/design, site assembly, planning promotion, commercial structuring, funding and financing, and development partnering and procurement. Opportunities for using a Revolving Regeneration Fund will also be explored.

Alongside this, the team is appointed to review and evolve governance models at the local and city-wide levels, building on the success of the Renaissance Board and engaging with local, regional and national stakeholders. All work will be undertaken around the Renaissance Vision’s six key themes: Connected, Destination, Green, Innovation, Neighbourhoods and Waterfront.

Councillor Sarah Bogle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Southampton City Council, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Montagu Evans into our Southampton Renaissance team. Montagu Evans brings in a wide range of technical expertise and experience, which will support Southampton’s goals to regenerate and transform the city centre  The Southampton Renaissance Vision set out the big ambitions that we have for our city, making it a destination that capitalises on our waterfront, green spaces and innovation, and the appointment of Montagu Evans will help us in taking the big strides needed to go from vision to reality.”

Oliver Maury, Partner at Montagu Evans and head of its Development Advisory team, said: “This is one of the most ambitious and strategically important regeneration programmes currently underway in the UK  Working closely with the Renaissance Board and wider project team, our role now is to think big and develop a clear city-wide delivery plan that will navigate complex market environments and create a platform for long-term investment, regeneration and growth  It will be essential at every stage to combine a strategic approach, commercial insight and practical delivery to ensure the vision is delivered effectively and the vision to refocus Southampton as a city of opportunity is realised.”

Montagu Evans will be leading a wider multi-disciplinary professional team, including vision masterplanner Prior + Partners as well as Grant Thornton, Mott MacDonald and Vail Williams.

The Southampton Renaissance Board includes Southampton City Council, Associated British Ports, University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton Football Club, Go South Coast, Go  Southampton, Network Rail, Business South, Red Funnel, Southampton Chamber of Commerce and Southampton Forward.