Places for People has announced the launch of a new strategic land division within its organisational structure. This forward-thinking move positions Places for People for long-term growth and will enable the organisation’s ambitious plans to deliver over 5,000 new homes per year by 2028.
The new division builds on the recent success of the Developments and Regeneration business under its new senior leadership team. Utilising the team’s extensive private housebuilding background, aligned with the strength of the wider Places for People group, the strategic land division will help secure a long-term pipeline to drive investment and business. This will allow growth and help deliver more much-needed affordable homes.
David Ashworth, Strategic Land Director at Place for People comments: “Our strategic land team will help fulfil the Group’s ambitious long-term investment and growth plans by providing a consistent supply of high-quality sustainable homes and vibrant new communities at even greater scale. Being able to proactively plan for the future means we can navigate the housing market more effectively to balance supply and demand, as well as ensuring our developments meet the needs of our customers now, and in the future, and are well adapted to the changing needs of our customers and wider society.”
A key differentiator for Places for People is that as a Social Enterprise, the organisation recycles all profits back into the delivery of its social aims, including much needed affordable homes. This enables the company to balance commercial outcomes with a dedication to placemaking and building sustainable long-term communities. With the strategic land team now in place, Places for People now has greater scope in creating stronger communities that have adaptability as society changes in areas such as transport connectivity, leisure access, community infrastructure and integrated communal spaces.
Adrian Bohr, CEO for Regeneration and Communities at Places for People comments: “The new strategic land division will secure future growth for the group and allow a more strategic approach to the delivery of homes across the UK in partnership with other key stakeholders, including land owners, Homes England, Homes Scotland and the UK government. We will build on our strong reputation for the planning and delivery of large scale, placemaking-led, mixed-use schemes, such as East Wick and Sweetwater to further deliver new communities and secure our position as trusted partner of choice for major legacy landowners such as the Duchy Estate, with whom Places for People has helped deliver Poundbury in Dorset and Tornagrain in Inverness.”
Places for People’s new strategic land team will be led by David Ashworth, who joined the company last year from Countryside bringing a wealth of experience in planning and development. To support David, four regional strategic teams are in place across the country.
David adds: “The addition of a strategic land division with UK wide coverage, will allow us to collaborate more effectively with Local Authority stakeholders and landowners, offering a more far-sited view into how we can best serve the needs of local communities and optimise long-term land use to deliver environmental, sustainable and biodiversity outcomes to create healthy communities. Additionally, it enables us to better integrate the diverse service offerings within our group such as Places Leisure and Touchstone property management.”
David continues: “We look forward to liaising with all parties looking to work in partnership in order to develop medium to long term sites over 100 units and circa 20 acres, which require promotion and/or adoption in the relevant Local Plan. We will utilise our expert planning and placemaking skills to bring these sites to fruition and create landmark, sustainable developments that future generations can enjoy for many years to come.” An example of the organisation’s vision and ambitious approach was seen in securing resolution for planning permission to build 8,500 new homes across six new ‘villages’ as part of the Gilston Garden Town extension to Harlow New Town earlier this year. The plans will see an entirely new community created with six new primary schools, healthcare facilities and 29,000 square meters of employment space.
