Robyn Peat.
Chairman
Background and Experience.
As Chairman, Robyn provides support to the Equity Partners whilst providing a range of land, property and business professional advice across the North East.
Qualifications.
- FRICS Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- RICS Registered Valuer
- Member of RICS Arbitrators Panel
- Member of RICS Expert Panel
- Member of CAAV Panel of Arbitrators
- Member of RICS ADR Panel of CPO and Telecom disputes
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Key Skills.
Valuations
Specialist in the valuation of all types of rural and business property assets for a wide range of purposes including taxation, planning and development, acquisition and restructuring purposes. Particular experience in valuing complex property interests.
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Key Skills.
Telecoms
Expert in Telecom code agreements and 54 Act renewals by negotiation and at Court / Tribunal. Have acted as Arbitrator and Expert determinations and as Expert Witness in contested applications for landowners including major site owners and infrastructure providers across the UK. A member of the RICS Panel of Telecom Disputes as an evaluative mediator and independent determiner.
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Key Skills.
Planning and Development
Expert in identifying potential developments for strategic portfolio acquisitions. Appraises development sites in context of valuation and viability, ranging from small scale agricultural sites to major green belt release and urban infrastructure projects including energy schemes. Negotiates option, promotion and joint venture agreements and complex site assemblies including the impact of reserved minerals.
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Key Skills.
Dispute Resolution and Arbitration
An expert in facilitating mediation, a member of the RICS Arbitration Panel and Expert Panel, a member of the CAAV Panel of Arbitrators with a nationwide experience in arbitration in the roles of advocate, expert witness, and arbitrator. Specialist in quantifying value and negotiation of restrictive covenants and claw-back / overage matters. A member of the RICS Panel of Compulsory Purchase Disputes and Telecom Disputes as an evaluative mediator and independent determiner.
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Key Skills.
Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
Evaluation and processing of compensation claims as a result of compulsory acquisition for major highway and infrastructure projects, including Betterment and Blight. A member of the RICS Panel of Compulsory Purchase Disputes as an evaluative mediator and independent determiner.
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Key Skills.
Landlord / Tenant Matters
Fully conversant with all landlord and tenant legislation with particular emphasis on agricultural tenancies. Effective negotiator and mediator. Recognised for building functional landlord and tenant relationships. Setting up of appropriate legal arrangements that minimises disputes or litigation.
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Key Skills.
Estate and Property Management
Wide experience across a diverse range of estate property types including traditional rural estates and commercial, residential and retail portfolios.
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Key Skills.
Acquisitions
Experience in identifying and acquiring property for individuals and businesses in the rural, residential and commercial sectors.
Sally Hart.
Partner
Background.
Sally is one of two Managing Partners, is the Head of Agency & Lettings and is also responsible for overseeing the Business Support Team.
Working closely with the teams across all offices to focus on the development of business strategies Sally ensures that results are aligned to the business development and growth plans.
Experience.
Sally has experience across a wide range of business areas including strategic management and marketing.
Joining GFW as the Head of Communications Sally was soon invited to join the board later being promoted to Operations Director.
Sally became an Equity Partner and most recently Joint Managing Partner.
Richard Garland.
Partner
Background and Experience.
Richard is a Chartered Surveyor and Associate Town Planner specialising in the understanding and delivery of value through development projects. He has been with GFW since 2006.
Development valuations and understanding of the planning system are at the core of his work. Richard excels in understanding and explaining complex situations to provide clear advice, having first understood the client’s needs. As a result Richard is currently a trusted advisor for commercial schemes in excess of £30m and residential schemes in excess of £150m.
Qualifications.
- FRICS – Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- Associate MRTPI Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
- VRS Registered Valuer
- RICS Independent Expert Determiner
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Key Skills.
Planning and Development
Extensive consultancy experience across the residential, commercial, energy and agricultural sectors at all project stages and scales from planning promotion, feasibility, through consent to construction.
Experienced in project management of EIA and sub EIA planning applications from position of lead consultant as well as dealing with high profile and/or controversial applications, including managing press, public and stakeholders.
Thorough understanding of planning legislation and policy, with a particular emphasis on applying knowledge to an understanding of risk on value of development projects.
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Key Skills.
Development Agreements
Significant track record of delivery through a wide variety of development agreements, including Option Agreements, Planning Promotion Agreements, Joint Ventures and Conditional Contracts.
Experienced in sites under multiple ownership through development agreements, including land equalisation and infrastructure delivery and has specialist knowledge of Agricultural Holdings Act Legislation (Case B) interaction with
development projects. -
Key Skills.
Valuation
Expertise in development property valuation, including valuation of large and complex sites. Has a robust understanding and application of RICS Red Book Valuation principles and determination of Market Value. Particular specialism in
interpreting specific valuation methodology from development agreements into robust valuation output and overage and restrictive covenant valuations. -
Key Skills.
Negotiation
A respected negotiator in all circles, with a track record of significant delivery of results. Adopts a style based on understanding all relevant detail, agreeing a strategy with clients and holding a robust position. Experienced and talented
advocate including arbitration, expert determination and planning determination. -
Key Skills.
Expert Witness
Experienced expert witness notably with regard to planning consultancy, development valuations and establishing market value.
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Key Skills.
Independent Expert Determiner
Qualified Independent Expert Determiner, handling instructions on a wide range of disputes, with primary area of practice being development valuation, purchase price and Market Value disputes, overages and planning disputes.
Elliot Taylor.
Partner
Background and Experience.
Elliot Taylor is an Equity Partner at GFW leading a rural team of highly skilled Rural Surveyors and Farm Consultants, delivering property and business consultancy advice across the North of
England.
Elliot is a Member of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants and a Professional Member of the Institute of Agricultural Management with over 25 years’ experience in the academic and commercial sectors. Elliot provides professional advice covering all areas of strategic business management for rural businesses. His areas of expertise include farm and estate management, strategic business planning, whole farm business appraisals and business restructuring. Other areas of expertise include joint venture management as well as advising on all aspects of environmental land use and woodland management through the Environmental Land Management Schemes.
Preceding his appointment at GFW, Elliot specialised in farm business, agricultural enterprise, environmental, supply chain and rural economic research at Newcastle University. His research portfolio has been scrutinised at the highest level, covering such areas as the economics of upland farming, agricultural resource use, strategic decision making and factors preventing rural economic growth.
Elliot also takes an active role in the management of his family farming business alongside his father and brother and is passionate about all things farming, the countryside and his local community.
Qualifications.
- BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business
Management – Wye College University
of London - MBIAC – Member of the British Institute
of Agricultural Consultants - PMIAgrM – Professional Member of the
Institute of Agricultural Management
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Key Skills.
Business Planning and Succession
Elliot works closely with clients to help them to fulfil their business and personal objectives. He provides advice on areas such as implementing new enterprises, developing diversification projects, succession planning, and retirement planning as well as whole business reviews and restructuring. Elliot works with clients to develop a successful business strategy by reducing risk and making the most of the opportunities available.
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Key Skills.
Financial Planning and Budgeting
Elliot is highly experienced in the preparation and interpretation of farm budgets, cash flow forecasts and accounts analysis. Elliot can provide clients with a thorough understanding of future profitability and cash availability, as well as monitoring key
performance indicators during the year. -
Key Skills.
Joint Venture Management
Elliot is highly experienced in the preparation and management of contract farming agreements for both arable and livestock farms.
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Key Skills.
Accessing Capital Funding
Elliot can provide expert advice to access funding for areas such as farm/land purchases, finance restructuring, infrastructure projects and diversification opportunities.
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Key Skills.
Farm Business Tenancy Opportunities
Elliot is skilled in preparing and submitting tender application by offering a valuable and bespoke service including attending farm viewing days, advising on rent levels and the preparation of forecast budgets as well as writing detailed tender applications.
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Key Skills.
Family Succession
Elliot is highly experienced in helping farming businesses develop their long-term succession plans to enable the next generation to continue farming.
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Key Skills.
Rural Grants
Elliot can provide tailored advice in the application process and delivery of rural grants. He can help develop project ideas, secure funding, and aid the successful implementation of largescale projects.
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Key Skills.
The Environment
Elliot fully understands the current environmental schemes available to protect and enhance biodiversity on farms. Elliot offers advice on farming in a sustainable way whilst taking advantage of the schemes that are available. Elliot has an in-depth knowledge of the environmental schemes available for farmers and land managers. Elliot helps clients choose the right scheme for their farm and guides them through the application process
until the agreement is in place. -
Key Skills.
Natural Capital
Elliot can help farmers understand the value of these assets both to their farming businesses and to the wider public. Elliot can help clients determine what natural assets they have, what benefits they produce, what they are worth and what they cost to maintain.
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Key Skills.
Rural Property Sales and Acquisitions
Elliot utilises his market knowledge and specialist skills to deliver farm agency services for rural clients. He understands that all client’s needs are different and therefore marketing strategies are always tailored to the individual client and their objectives.
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Key Skills.
Woodland and Forestry
Elliot alongside his team can advise on all aspects of woodland and forestry management including valuations, marketing, maintenance, and establishments.
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Key Skills.
Farm Management
Elliot works closely with landowners in managing their farming businesses with a clear understanding of their aims and objectives. He and his team can offer a bespoke day to day farm management service providing advice tailored to individual situations and needs.
Andrew Entwistle.
Partner
Background and Experience.
The son of a Northumberland vet; Andrew furthered his career in the Midlands before returning to the North East in 2000 where he joined GFW. Andrew became an Equity Partner in 2006.
For 11 years, Andrew sat on the Global Valuation Standards Board (GVSB) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) representing the rural faculty. The GVSB oversaw the production of the RICS Appraisal and Valuation Standards (The Red Book).
Andrew is valued by clients for his sense of integrity, his technical
expertise, and his ability to deliver results in complex matters.
Qualifications.
- FRICS – Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
- FAAV – Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers
- Dip. Surv – Diploma In Surveying, College of Estate Management, Reading
- BSc (Hons) Countryside Management, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
- Bond Solon Expert Witness Training
- RICS Registered Valuer
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Key Skills.
Specialist Valuations
Specialist in the valuation of all types of property assets for a wide range of purposes including taxation, matrimonial, security, planning, negligence, acquisition and restructuring purposes.
Particular experience in valuing complex property interests and large scale development projects including determination of land value under option agreements. Also proficient in appraisal and valuation of renewable energy projects.
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Key Skills.
Strategic Business Management
Project managing wealth transfer mechanisms and succession planning for families and businesses, with emphasis on establishing current and future value to ascertain / mitigate tax liabilities.
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Key Skills.
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Preparation of expert witness reports compliant with civil procedure rules for all judicial courts on a wide array of purposes including boundary disputes/boundary determination. Court experience from Upper Tribunal to High Court level and
experience in providing Public Inquiry testimony. Experienced in landlord/tenant arbitration proceedings acting in the role of advocate. -
Key Skills.
Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
Lead in providing strategy for protecting property interests under the shadow of compulsory purchase, formulation of effective claims and mitigation, track record of being lead Expert in valuation matters following Compulsory Purchase proceedings referred to Upper Tribunal.
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Key Skills.
Restrictive Covenants
Recognised nationally for his expertise in s84 LPA matters Andrew frequently receives instructions in regards to quantifying value and negotiation of restrictive covenants and overage matters. Has appeared in a number of high profile Upper Tribunal (Land Chamber) hearings in the role of Expert.
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Key Skills.
Landlord / Tenant Matters
Fully conversant with all landlord and tenant legislation with particular emphasis on agricultural tenancies. Effective negotiator and mediator. Recognised for building functional landlord and tenant relationships. Setting up of appropriate legal arrangements that minimises disputes or litigation.
Notable Cases.
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1
Re Tate’s Application [2013] UKUT 289 (LC)
Discharge of restrictive covenant – compensation
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2
Barker v Pinsent Masons LLP and others [2017]
Valuation of profits from development land
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3
West Park Developments v Clark Weightman Ltd [2017]
Valuation of land subject to “hope value”
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4
Father’s Field Developments Limited v Namuals Pension Trustees Limited [2021] UKUT 169 (LC)
Discharge of restrictive covenant – compensation
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5
Cairns and Moore v The Committee of Painshawfield and others [2023]
Modification of Restrictive Covenant – valuation
Adeline Rutherford.
Partner
Background and Experience.
Adeline joined GFW in 2014 from a rural background and having attended Harper Adams University. She lives on a working farm in which she is actively involved.
Adeline is based in the Alnwick office where she has worked in a wide variety of jobs with a wide variety of clients.
She is approachable, outgoing, and hard-working. She works as easily with other professionals, such as solicitors and accountants, as she does with everyone in the rural community.
When meeting clients for jobs, her in-depth knowledge of rural businesses allows her to create additional value for the clients as she adapts her expertise to problem solve.
Qualifications.
- BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management – Harper Adams University
- MRICS – Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
- FAAV – Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers
- RICS Registered Valuer
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Key Skills.
Specialist Property Sales and Acquisitions
Sales and acquisitions of land, farms, small holdings, equestrian properties, and unusual rural properties form a large part of Adeline’s work. Having a family farming business and being an active member of the equestrian community, supplements her extensive professional knowledge in these property sectors and makes Adeline well-placed to provide rural property agency and professional services.
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Key Skills.
Valuations
Specialist in the valuation of all types of property assets for a wide range of purposes including taxation, matrimonial, security, planning, negligence, acquisition and restructuring purposes. Particular experience in valuing complex property interests.
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Key Skills.
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Preparation of expert witness reports for a wide array of purposes and properties including preparation of reports that are fully compliant with civil procedure rules for all judicial courts. Court experience from Upper Tribunal to High Court level.
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Key Skills.
Estate and Property Management
Wide experience managing a diverse range of estate property types including traditional rural estates (some with residential and commercial interests) and bare agricultural land holdings. Management often includes employment and managing the estates employees.
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Key Skills.
Landlord / Tenant Matters
Fully conversant with all landlord and tenant legislation with particular emphasis on agricultural tenancies. Effective negotiator and mediator. Recognised for building functional landlord and tenant relationships. Setting up of appropriate legal arrangements that minimises disputes or litigation.
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Key Skills.
Agri-Environment Schemes and Land Management
In depth knowledge of Agri-Environment schemes and other agricultural support mechanisms. Actively involved in developing schemes as well as strategically advising for future incentives or management options.
Jessica Clark.
Partner
Background and Experience.
Jessica joined GFW in 2007 from a rural background and having attended Newcastle University. She lives on a working farm in which she is actively involved.
Jessica is based in the Alnwick office where she has worked in a wide variety of jobs with a wide variety of clients. She is approachable, outgoing, and hard-working.
She works as easily with other professionals, such as solicitors and accountants, as she does with everyone in the rural community.
When meeting clients for jobs, her in-depth knowledge of rural businesses allows her to create additional value for the clients as she adapts her expertise to problem solve.
Qualifications.
- BSc (Hons) Rural Studies – Newcastle University
- MRICS – Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
- FAAV – Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers
- RICS Registered Valuer
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Key Skills.
Valuations
Specialist in the valuation of all types of rural and business property assets for a wide range of purposes including taxation, planning and development, acquisition and restructuring purposes. Particular experience in valuing complex property interests.
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Key Skills.
Estate and Property Management
Wide experience across a diverse range of estate property types including traditional rural estates and commercial, residential and retail portfolios.
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Key Skills.
Purchase and Sale
Selling land and property privately and on the open market as well as carrying out acquisitions on behalf of clients.
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Key Skills.
Landlord / Tenant Matters
Fully conversant with Agricultural Holdings Act, the Agricultural Tenancies Act and the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides all landlord and tenant guidance with particular emphasis on agricultural tenancies including farm worker’s dwellings, advice in relation to rent reviews, termination of tenancies, end of tenancy matters, disputes and succession.
Provides advice on tenancies and licence agreements in relation to agricultural, residential and commercial property acting for both Landlord and Tenant.
Jessica Douglas.
HR & Recruitment Manager
Background and Experience.
Jessica is the HR & Recruitment Manager for GFW working closely with the Equity Partners to develop and maintain business culture whilst providing key support to Team GFW.
Joining GFW as a Business Administrator in 2011 Jessica provided support to the Business Support Team across Finance, Marketing, HR and Operations.
Based in the Alnwick office it was clear that Jessica’s passion and strengths lay with people focused projects and she moved into a full-time role in HR.
Now, as HR & Recruitment Manager Jessica is responsible for reviewing and developing the business culture, ensuring the core business values of communication, collaboration and teamwork are fully embraced within the business.
Jessica thrives on seeking out the talent of the future and plays a key role in nurturing individuals to ensure they reach their full potential. She is passionate about maintaining a positive working environment across all areas of the business.
David Davies.
Partner
Background and Experience.
A chartered member of both the Royal Institute of British Architects and Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, David has over 20 years of experience in Architectural practice. He has worked from studios across the UK, and in Australia, and has undertaken project work that ranges from Hospitals in North America, to Railway Stations in the Middle East.
A significant focus of David’s work has been contributing to, and leading large technically demanding projects, requiring a committed approach to working closely and collaboratively alongside multi-disciplinary design teams. Positive experiences of heading up the Architectural Team on two rail infrastructure projects from a multi-disciplinary project office ignited a passion for practicing grom an interdisciplinary studio; eventually leading to David’s move to join GFW’s Planning, Architecture and Development Team in Spring 2024.
David’s aptitude to work across a project Team transcends purely Architectural commissions; he frequently applies his problem solving skills and ability to work so productively with others to a broad facet of consultancy and advisory work across the built environment.
Qualifications.
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BA (Hons) Architecture
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PG Dip Architecture
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Master of Architecture
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PG Certificate in Research
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RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects)
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RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland)
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ARB (Architects Registration Board)
Key Skills.
David is a firm advocate that the most successful projects are grounded by a robust, well-considered masterplan. Much of his project work starts with a masterplanning role; exploring the opportunities and constraints of a project in order to appraise options and promote the best outcome for the site, and the client. As projects have matured David has been afforded the opportunity to deliver built projects from the masterplans he has authored, as well as supporting others to build-out their own buildings when acting as strategic masterplanning lead across sites being taken forward by multiple parties.
Throughout his career David has championed BIM as a key tool to develop and test design proposals. In the mid 2010’s alongside a committed teams of Engineers and other Architects, David prepared very advanced and complex models to ensure the ongoing design work for two very large deep-underground rail infrastructure projects was fully coordinated. Time spent in this BIM Level 4 environment and the ultimate production of well-resolved, well-coordinated design work that optimises the performance of the building, reduces waste during construction, and produces a safer more efficient building both during and post-construction affirmed a career long approach of embracing the tools of changing technology, coupled with a commitment of not working in a vacuum and being forthcoming in collaboration other professionals.
Substantial experience of working with institutional clients from the public sector, and large private sector consultancies means that David is very familiar with the requirements of navigating projects through their journey in a process-driven manner. He has taken an active role in Quality and Environmental Management systems in previous roles and at GFW is supporting the board to set up and implement new systems and procedures across the business.
David leads on the GFW tendering and bidding work; managing a database of the business
Key Projects.
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Ferndene, Prudhoe, Northumberland.
£27m new-build Health, Education and Therapy facility to provide residential care for Children and Young People aged 8-18 with severe Mental Health illnesses and Learning Disabilities.
RIBA Stages 1-7
Over a period of three years, David was a key member of the Architectural team taking the project from its initial briefing and inception, through stakeholder engagement, the design stages, gaining consents, procurement and overseeing construction and handover on site. After the project had been operational for some time there was an opportunity to undertake some post-occupancy evaluation which proved to be valuable as the project has been recognised internationally as an exemplar in design for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities for Children and Young People.
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Hopewood Park, Sunderland.
£38m new-build Health Campus including FM, Estates, Training and Education facilities. The site serves as a southern regional Hub for core clinical and support services for the CNTW NHS Foundation Trust.
RIBA Stages 1-6
David was the project architect, managing a large team of architects and designers from offices in London and Newcastle who were preparing design and technical information for a large campus of Hospital and Health Buildings. During the construction phase David was the principal point of contact for the Main Contractor and was responsible for overseeing all site inspection and site coordination.
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Station 2B4 and 1C4, Riyach Metro, Saudi Arabia.
$620m.
Alongside Engineering consultant Arup, David lead a seconded-team of eight Architects who undertook the Architectural design development work for two deep underground railway stations (and associated service and ancillary buildings) over a period of 3+ years. Working from a multi-disciplinary project office, the BIM Level 4 projects used Autodesk Revit software to generate in excess of over 500 drawings, schedules and specifications for the large buildings. The new stations were stitched into the existing fabric of the city, including being constructed underneath existing 10 lane highways (which remained operational during construction thanks to temporary works supporting a traffic deck) and were built to connect into existing buildings (including an underground connection to a shopping mall beneath Riyadh’s tallest building.
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OME, Newcastle University.
£1.5m. University research facility, laboratory, teaching and exhibition space.
One of a number of Higher Education sector projects, delivered as part of the North East Universities Procurement Consortium, OME is a ground-breaking innovative building commissioned for the school of Architecture to act as a living laboratory for developing and testing prototypes of new building materials and construction technologies. The project was designed entirely through the COVID pandemic requiring an agile approach to client and stakeholder design development workshops. The scheme was delivered in the heart of the live University campus, in a phased manner to a very demanding programme to meet funding requirements and to fit around the logistical demands of the Universities operational and academic timetable.
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The Stables, Whitby, North Yorkshire.
£6m. Hotel and Restaurant.
The project involved the refurbishment and repair of two listed buildings, a number of other former agricultural buildings and external landscapes, alongside two new-build buildings in order to expand an existing hotel and restaurant from 8 to 38 bedrooms. The project required extensive dialogue and negotiation with the Planning Conservation officer to balance the clients commercial aspirations for the site against the retention, preservation and future care of historic assets that had been badly neglected by previous owners. In addition to being lead Architect and lead Consultant, David undertook the role of Principal Designer on the scheme and was responsible for managing and overseeing the Health and Safety during the pre-construction phases of the project.
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AirView Park, Newcastle International Airport.
£10m. Offices and Employment site.
Strategic masterplan, planning consent. Site-wide masterplanning lead and interface with Bellway (and their project team) for the development of their HQ as well as detailed design and on-site delivery of new Category A commercial office buildings, site-wide infrastructure and external landscape works.
Rhys Jones.
Partner
Background and Experience.
Rhys is a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer who works within the Development team from our Newcastle office.
Rhys joined the firm in 2018 and works as a development surveyor. He provides specialist development consultancy on matters including agency, strategic land, valuations, title defects, and the release of mines and minerals reservations.
Qualifications.
- MRICS – Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- VRS Registered Valuer
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Key Skills.
Development Agency
Leads the development agency team and represents landowners from Yorkshire to the Scottish Borders on the sale of land to both regional and national housebuilders.
Provides expert development agency advice on sites ranging in size from self-build plots to new settlements and has been involved in over 2,000 plot sales in the last two years.
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Key Skills.
Strategic Land
Proven track record of identifying strategic land and working with landowners through the planning and development process to point of sale.
Experienced with development agreements including Option Agreements, Promotion Agreements, Joint Ventures, and Conditional Contracts.
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Key Skills.
Valuations
RICS VRS Registered Valuer and undertakes valuations for all purposes including secured lending, legislation and tax. He is experienced in valuing all types of developments including complex development sites with large scale phasing and equalisation.
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Key Skills.
Feasibility and Viability Appraisal
Provides consultancy advice on feasibility and viability appraisals.
He has robust understanding of the application of RICS Financial Viability in planning and NPPG viability.
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Key Skills.
Restrictive Covenants, Overage Advice and Title Reviews
Preparation of specialist valuations under section 82 of the Law of Property Act 1925 and overage calculations. Provides advice on valuation clauses within overage agreements.
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Key Skills.
Mines and Minerals
Proven track record of negotiating the release of mines and minerals reservations which impede on development.
Works closely with his clients to give consultancy on the strength of the reservation and advice on whether the mineral owners have a claim to loss or trespass.