Savills appoints new head of South Coast development team
Development director Jonny Kiddle has been appointed to head up Savills South Coast development team, based across the firm’s Southampton and Wimborne offices.
Kiddle joined Savills just over a year ago, marking a return to the firm having started his career as a graduate in 2006 and qualifying in 2008. He spent five years with Savills South Coast Development team before spending 12 years client side.
He takes over from Colin Wilkins, who has headed up the department for the last 20 years and will continue to play an integral role within the agency team. Wilkins has recently celebrated 30 years at Savills, having joined in 1994, and has advised on or sold thousands of acres of development land around Hampshire, Dorset and Sussex.
In 2024, Savills South Coast Development team transacted on 20 sites, providing a total land value of more than £64m, with a pipeline of more than 26,000 strategic plots at various stages in the promotion process.
In addition to Kiddle’s appointment, Sam Sparshott will be taking on the leadership of the department’s valuation team across the Southampton and Wimborne offices.
Sparshott is taking on the role from Philip Beattie, who will remain within the team, focussing on leading the multi-disciplinary Wimborne office at Wessex House.
Kiddle said: “We have an exceptionally talented team across Wimborne and Southampton who will continue to provide a first class service to our varied group of clients. Colin remains very much part of the team and we are looking forward to exciting times ahead; 2025 should be a good year for the development industry with the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) making an impact and, hopefully, a more stable economic and political backdrop in the UK.”
Patrick Eve, Savills head of regional development, says: “We are very pleased Jonny will be taking the South Coast Development team forward, with his vast experience building on the team’s existing capabilities and ensuring we continue to provide the very best service for new and existing clients. I’d like to thank Colin Wilkins for his dedication over the last 20 years, which has seen the team go from strength to strength.”
The New Homes Group announces key leadership appointments
The New Homes Group has announced significant leadership changes as the part exchange and assisted move provider eyes growth.
Mark Platt has been appointed to the newly created role of executive director, where he will oversee the strategic direction of the business.
Zoe Sturgess will succeed Platt as divisional managing director. Her appointment follows an impressive 16-year career with The New Homes Group, during which she has held pivotal roles including sales manager, head of sales, and most recently, divisional sales director.
Sturgess said: “I look forward to building on our strong foundations, fostering lasting relationships with our housebuilder partners, and continuing to deliver outstanding results for our customers.”
Platt, who originally recruited Sturgess into the business, commented: “Zoe has been a driving force behind our success, providing exceptional guidance to our talented team of property professionals.
“Her deep understanding of the business and unwavering commitment make her the ideal person to lead us into the future. I have no doubt that together, we will continue to achieve even greater success.”
New leadership team appointed as Lovell launches strategic land offer
Lovell has appointed a senior team to coincide with the launch of its Lovell Strategic Land offer.
It will focus on the promotion of residential-led development to unlock strategic and complex sites across the country, which will enable the delivery of small urban extensions, right though to vibrant, inclusive settlements.
Part of FTSE 250-listed partnerships, fit out and construction services group, Morgan Sindall Group, Lovell aims to bring forward key sites, from land acquisition to securing planning consent – including by promoting them through the Local Plan process – which will then be delivered by its dedicated regional teams.
The team to spearhead the Lovell Strategic Land includes:
Ashley Kensington will lead the team after she joined Lovell as national land director in 2022. She is experienced in the delivery of large residential-led schemes, having previously held a leadership position at Berkeley Group.
She said: “Lovell Strategic Land is going into 2025 in a strong position with a range of opportunities in the pipeline. It’s excellent to have such a talented team on board who will be driving the growth of this important service offer.
“We’re focused on unlocking the development potential of land and accelerating the delivery of residential-led development. We pride ourselves on doing things differently, working in genuine partnership with landowners and local communities from the outset and building trusted relationships.
“In doing so, we’re playing a vital role in bringing forward the housing needed across the UK today and creating new sustainable communities.”
Catherine Wood, development director, will focus on leading the business’ activity across the north of England and Scotland. She brings over 25 years’ experience working in strategic land, including a decade at the helm of Gladman Scotland, part of Gladman Developments. Wood is also a non-executive board member of registered social landlord Home Group Scotland.
Samantha Brooman, associate development director central, will oversee the team’s projects across central England. She has worked across the public and private sector, having held roles at local authorities such as South Kesteven District Council and construction business, Tarmac.
Kieron Gregson, associate development director South, will oversee the business’ work in the South of England. He was previously part of the strategic land team at Carter Jonas where he acted on behalf of a variety of clients across the public, institutional and private sectors.
Steve Coleby, managing director at Lovell, commented: “The investment in strategic land is vital to our growth plans and will help address the housing crisis and deliver much needed homes across the UK. It’s a key part of our mission to create great homes and places, through meaningful trusted partnerships.
“Lovell Strategic Land will focus on the promotion of residential-led development in our business, which will be crucial when we deliver on providing affordable homes across the country. We are looking forward to working with our partners on our new launch whose expertise and insights will ensure we make this a success.”
Read the orginal article: https://propertyindustryeye.com/comings-goings-263/
