Real Estate Development Strategy

We drive transformative growth through expert-led development and asset strategy

Real Estate Development Strategy

We drive transformative growth through expert-led development and asset strategy

Point of View

The property industry is at an inflexion point. There are severe headwinds, pushing against the sector. Building safety standards, evolving regulations, development viability, corporate governance, sustainability targets and personal accountability for providing safe, secure and fit for purpose buildings, are all mounting up. This is adding significant pressure against being able to drive performance across a portfolio. Ideally, rental surpluses and balance sheet borrowing could be utilised to reposition portfolios or stranded assets, but debt costs remain high and therefore not accretive and recent valuation depreciations have meant the scale of many people’s borrowing and debt ratios are over-balanced. Most will therefore need to either reposition themselves, through a portfolio rebalance or, if possible, simply hold steady and ride out these current pressures. Capital will need to be deployed on improving obsolete and inefficient buildings. However, there is a tremendous opportunity over the next decade to build upon the current political stability and focus and to hopefully take advantage of improving economic conditions, to look to create new destinations, places and buildings. Buildings of high quality, purpose and setting new sustainability standards. Repurposing and the re-activation of Urban centres and brownfield land should be the main focal point.

With seismic shifts in working practices and in how new projects are delivered, I believe there can be challenge to the perceived “normal” route to design, planning and procurement and ensure building safety is held in the highest regard. There will be new ways of working and appraising new developments but the overarching fundamentals will propel, well considered investment themes and ultimately, schemes forward. There needs to be bravery in exploring new partnerships, new capital structures and new ways of working, but keeping the core principals close to heart.

People

Warwick Hunter

By background, I am a proven real estate leader and responsible developer. My previous portfolios and schemes seek to enrich local environments and build on the context and character of areas. Property and development is about curating places for the local community in which people can enjoy and benefit from their surroundings, whether it provides spaces to live, work or play. I deeply believe in a sense of custodianship and being involved in projects that provide a sense of place and pride. Those schemes should enhance the areas in which they sit and benefit those they are intended for, which is the community, both existing and new. They should also respond to shareholders’ needs, with exit and valuation strategies at the forefront of Business Plans. These should be reviewed constantly. Aligning these elements provides cohesion to a project through collaboration and a shared understanding of what success looks like.

I believe in accountability across businesses and in a strong team ethic. Property and development needs to be sustainable, viable and beneficial. New developments should stand the test of time. Partnerships and pragmatism will be required to develop new, integrated and sustainable communities and I have the track record of working with Partners to bring schemes to fruition. I have also overseen portfolios that required active asset management and retrospective remediation works. Ultimately, the properties need to serve the customers, in whatever capacity and state the buildings are in.

At a Company level, I enjoy building teams, that focus around trust, respect and integrity. Where each team member understands their role and how they contribute to the wider success of the business. I like to provide working environments where individuals can grow and realise that more is achieved when working collegiately.

Track Record

Warwick joined the industry in 2003 specialising in Central London development and brokerage, and has now worked across most sectors. His career began at Drivers Jonas before moving client side working at CORE, Great Portland Estates, Qatari Diar, Henley Investments and most recently at Telford Homes. He has been responsible for achieving planning consents for over 5m sqft, and have developed over 8m sqft, which has exceeded £12blln of gross development value. Projects include the regenerations of a former quarry in Ebbsfleet providing over 6,000 homes, a new mixed-use Urban Centre in Salford, providing over 3,000 homes, the conversion of the former US Embassy site on Grosvenor Square to a luxury hotel, the residential scheme at Chelsea Barracks, the mixed-use scheme at Southbank Place and offices at 30 Broadwick Street, 240 Blackfriars and Hanover Square. He has assembled and managed many funding structures, joint ventures and partnerships, both public and private.

ESG also provides an area of great interest and specialism. At Henley Warwick served as Head of ESG, he helped to shape and inform the company’s ESG policy, its vision and the implementation of trackers and reporting across both the portfolio and the wider business. This provided a robust and accountable approach to repairing and improving assets and delivering new developments against its ESG targets.

Real Estate Development Strategy

Real Estate Development Strategy

Point of View

People

Warwick Hunter

Track Record

Services

Contact Us

H2 Real Estate

Real Estate Development Strategy

Real Estate Development Strategy

Point of View

People

Warwick Hunter

Track Record

Services

Contact Us

H2 Real Estate

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