The 2026 Market Outlook: Navigating Yield, Policy, and Demand

Examine the current state of the UK BTR sector, forecast trends, and discuss investor sentiment in a changing market

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  Jurriën de Koning

  Managing Director

  Hines

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  Jennifer Murray

  Jennifer began her career in property investment management at Schroders where she was fund manager for directly invested funds and multi manager portfolios on behalf of pension fund and charity clients for over 15 years.  Prior to joining Homes England, where she has responsibility for Institutional Investment, Jennifer was a fund manager for Tesco Pension Investment.  Here she developed a professional interest in residential as an institutional investment class having managed overseas investment strategies. Jennifer is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Investment Property Forum.

  Homes England

  Head of Institutional Investment

  Jennifer Murray

  Head of Institutional Investment

  Homes England

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  John German

  John joined Invesco Real Estate (IRE) in April 2013 and is responsible for spearheading the expansion of the firm’s European residential expertise and investments in Europe. With over 26 years’ experience in the industry, John spent 12 years at Grosvenor, where he was the head of residential strategy, and at Aberdeen Property Investors as director of residential fund management. In these roles, John has raised, invested and managed c.£200m in two residential funds on behalf of UK and European institutional investors. He also has experience with the student and serviced apartment sectors. John’s extensive experience covers transactions, developments, valuations as well as asset and property management. John is a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, has a BSc (hons) in Rural Land Management and is a member of the BPF and IPF.2017

  Invesco EMEA

  Managing Director, Head of Living Investments, Europe

  John German

  Managing Director, Head of Living Investments, Europe

  Invesco EMEA

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  Iain Murray

  Iain leads a team of specialist Operational Living Consultants and Research Analysts at Bidwells, based in its London office, with over 140 clients from the UK, Ireland and Spain. The team have worked on over 60k+ Rental Homes and Student Beds covering PBSA, Co-living, Build to Rent, Single Family Housing/Rental, Later/Senior Living and Retirement. Iain is considered a veteran of the Living sector adding it to his 38-year career. The past projects on his CV are considerable, over £8bn of schools and hospitals in the PPP market as a Partner at G&T, the Estates Rationalisation Project for HMNB Clyde (Faslane & Coulport), over 50 Care Homes both Developed and Operated, and a strong background in FM including a term as Chair of the Professional Institute for FM the now IWFM and Deputy Chair of Global FM. Iain entered the Rental Living Sector over a decade ago founding LIV Consult, alongside Graham Bates, and the LIV Group, before selling the business to Cortland in 2019. Bidwells acquired the Operational Consultancy Team in April this year. The team are known for their knowledge leadership in Operational Living and Iain is recognised as a subject leader and an accomplished speaker in the industry. He and his team have delivered advice on over £6.2bn of assets. Iain is Chair of the Association of Rental Living Scottish Hub, sits on their Strategic Group for the UK and is a member of the Whole Life Cost Hub. Iain is also a mentor for the ULI.

  Bidwells

  Head of Operational Living

  Iain Murray

  Head of Operational Living

  Bidwells

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  Andy Barnard

  Andy specialises in providing legal advice in relation to a wide variety of real estate projects. He works for a wide range of accommodation providers and investors including developers, central government organisations, Registered Providers, local authorities, contractors, joint ventures, banks and private equity houses. The accommodation projects in which Andy has been and is involved include build to rent, student housing, regeneration projects, affordable housing and key worker schemes.

  Trowers & Hamlins

  Partner

  Moderator

  Andy Barnard

  Partner

  Trowers & Hamlins

The Long Game: Maximising BTR Portfolio Value and Asset Strategy

Portfolio performance, NOI discipline and long-term asset strategy

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  Kristian Branum-Burns

  Managing Director

  QuadReal Property Group

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  James Riddell

  CEO

  Quintain

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  Varun Malik

  A global transformation and operations executive with over 20 years' experience across real estate, financial services and PE-backed businesses. Varun has held senior roles at GE Capital, Aviva Investors, Yugo and GSA (Global Student Accommodation). At fu3e, he leads operational execution and scalable growth across the UK, US and MEA markets, with a focus on product delivery, onboarding and customer success.

  fu3e

  Chief Operating Officer

  Varun Malik

  Chief Operating Officer

  fu3e

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  Shaun Grainger

  With over two decades of experience in sales and client advisory, Shaun Grainger brings deep expertise in residential development and strategic real estate solutions. His career spans the Banking and Insurance sectors, where he has specialised in supporting Real Estate clients and advisors. Shaun co-leads the Residential Real Estate Team at Willis currently, focusing on Build to Rent, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), and Integrated Retirement Community portfolios, covering everything from construction and development to long-term property insurance. Shaun’s insight into lender and funder requirements, shaped by years of collaboration with institutional investors, positions him as a trusted voice in the evolving landscape of affordable housing and residential investment

  WTW

  Director – Residential Real Estate

  Shaun Grainger

  Director – Residential Real Estate

  WTW

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  Owain Morgan

  Owain is an accomplished real estate lawyer with experience advising on a wide range of real estate transactions. Owain has a particular focus on the Living Sector, including investment and development led work acting for institutional investors, private equity and sovereign wealth funds, specialist developers and platform operators. Before joining DAC Beachcroft, Owain was Senior Legal Counsel at Legal & General working across their housing strategies and gaining a deep commercial understanding of single and multi-family BTR, affordable homes, later living and PBSA.

  DAC Beachcroft

  Partner - Real Estate

  Moderator

  Owain Morgan

  Partner - Real Estate

  DAC Beachcroft

Community-First Design: Spaces Residents Want to Call Home

Design for retention: Liveability and community-led amenities that lift retention and justify premium rents, not just more amenities

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  Stephanie Smith

  Head of Residential

  Muse

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  Neil Hook

  Director of Property Development

  Places for London

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  Michael Swiszczowski

  Michael joined Chapman Taylor in 2016 to build the practice’s expertise in the residential sector. Appointed to the Group Board in 2025, he continues to play a leading role in shaping and expanding the practice’s residential and hospitality portfolios across the group. He has designed and delivered a wide range of award-winning projects, with a particular focus on Build-to-Rent, student accommodation, hotels, serviced apartments, and modular construction. Michael is a regular speaker at international property conferences where he articulates Chapman Taylor’s design approach and skill sets, offering thought leadership on future living trends and sector evolution. He also serves as a Commissioner on the Radix Big Tent Housing Commission, a cross-party think tank that advises the UK Government on housing policy and contributes practical, evidence-based recommendations to address systemic challenges in housing delivery. He was nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association for Rental Living (ARL) in recognition of his significant contributions to the Build-to-Rent sector. He also serves as a Special Design Advisor on the ARL Design Committee and is a RIBA-elected member of the Regional Council for RIBA North West. Areas of expertise: Mixed-Use / Residential / Build-to-Rent / Student Accommodation / Hotels / Retrofit

  Chapman Taylor

  Group Board Director, UK

  Michael Swiszczowski

  Group Board Director, UK

  Chapman Taylor

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  Dennis Kaka

  Dennis has worked at Samsung for over 7 years originally managing Enterprise accounts in the Transport & Logistics sector. He is now New Business and Strategic Partnerships Manager at Samsung, responsible for leading strategic supply partnerships across the construction vertical. Dennis works with major UK developers operating across the homebuilder, BTR and PBSA sectors focused on smart home technology and climate solutions.

  Samsung Electronics UK

  New Business and Strategic Partnerships Manager

  Dennis Kaka

  New Business and Strategic Partnerships Manager

  Samsung Electronics UK

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  Jonathan Morris

  Jonathan Morris is a Specification and Sustainability Director at Watkin Jones Group, specialising in the development of high-quality Build-to-Rent (BtR) and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) across the UK. With a strong focus on product innovation, ESG strategy, and technical specification, Jonathan leads the integration of sustainable design principles into commercially viable residential models. Jonathan is actively involved in advancing next-generation living concepts, including offsite manufacturing, smart building systems, and low-carbon energy strategies. Their work bridges design, delivery, and investment, ensuring developments respond to evolving resident expectations while driving long-term value for investors and communities.

  Watkin Jones Group

  Specification and Sustainability Director

  Jonathan Morris

  Specification and Sustainability Director

  Watkin Jones Group

• Moderator

  Alex Graham

  Director

  TLJ Access Control

Doing Good As A Return Driver, Not A Constraint

How L&G and Nest turned an NHS brownfield, affordable homes, and all-electric design into a deal structure that works in 2026.

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  Adam Burney

  Head of BTR

  Legal & General

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  Tom Henry

  Tom has over 20 years’ experience in the UK residential market as both principal and advisor. He has transacted more than £1bn of UK residential assets through forward funding, joint ventures, and the acquisition and disposal of stabilised schemes, contributing to the delivery of over 6,000 new homes. Tom leads Nest’s residential strategy, with a focus on Build to Rent, Single Family Rental, and Affordable Housing.

  Nest

  Senior Investment Manager Residential

  Tom Henry

  Senior Investment Manager Residential

  Nest

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  Mike Phillips

  Mike is UK editor of Bisnow. Before this, alongside three friends he bought pan-European property mag EuroProperty out of non-existence and re established it before selling the business to PropertyEU. Prior to that he was editor of Property Week, and has also worked for Estates Gazette.

  Bisnow

  UK Editor

  Moderator

  Mike Phillips

  UK Editor

  Bisnow

Running Efficient BTR Portfolios and Keeping Residents Satisfied

Explore best practices in property management and tenant engagement to maximise operational performance, leasing and retention

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  Freya Richard

  Freya joined Vertus, part of the Canary Wharf Group in 2019 following seven years at Knight Frank’s head office in London. Having started her career in residential leasehold management Freya then moved over to set up a new department within the residential division, focusing on management of residential portfolios. During this time, she set up all operational and letting functions of the business including the implementation of centralised lettings and property management systems, and subsequently oversaw the growth of the department into the build-to-rent sector, estates, and distressed portfolios. She worked with clients such as Greystar, Kennedy Wilson, Essential Living, Urbanest and A2 Dominion to launch and lease up buildings such as Pinnacle Tower, Exchange Gardens, Nin Elms Point and Camley Street.

  Vertus

  Director - Leasing & Operations

  Freya Richard

  Director - Leasing & Operations

  Vertus

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  Anish Thobhani

  Anish has extensive experience leading the delivery and operations of Build to Rent communities across the UK. As Grainger’s Director of BTR, he is responsible for creating thriving rental neighbourhoods, that operate to high standards delivering exceptional experience and long‑term performance in line with the company’s growth strategy. With over 25 years in residential investment and operations, Anish brings deep sector knowledge, operational experience with a strong focus on innovation and customer experience. At Grainger, he has been closely involved in the expansion of BTR in the UK, including the delivery of the company’s first BTR scheme in London and offers extensive operational insights into the sector.

  Grainger

  Director of BTR

  Anish Thobhani

  Director of BTR

  Grainger

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  John Coddington

  John Coddington is a senior leader with over 17 years of experience in residential property management and asset management. John is currently Head of Residential at JLL, oversees a portfolio of 2,000+ homes and leading a team of 35+ professionals. Throughout his career, John has managed diverse residential portfolios for prestigious clients, including Lendlease, Berkeley Homes, Shaftesbury Capital, and The Wellcome Trust. His expertise spans build to rent, single family housing, block management, institutional PRS, and landed estates. John's strengths lie in strategic asset management, financial optimisation, and operational excellence. He has a proven track record of implementing transformational projects, mobilising complex schemes, ensuring compliance, and enhancing customer experience across large-scale residential portfolios. With experience in both client-side and agency roles, John offers comprehensive insights into the residential sector. His leadership skills and deep industry knowledge enable him to deliver exceptional results, maximising the value and performance of residential assets while creating thriving communities.

  JLL

  Head of Residential - Property & Asset Management

  John Coddington

  Head of Residential - Property & Asset Management

  JLL

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  Jon Hammond

  Head of Growth

  Lette

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  Sarah Willoughby-Parsons

  Director of Asset Management

  Starlight

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  Jessica Gillingham

  Jessica is the CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency focused on raising the profile of transformative technology solutions across the global hospitality, lodging, and living sectors. Abode sits at the heart of the developing intersection between work, life and play in real estate and hospitality and partners with the brands playing a lead role in this transformation. A regular industry speaker, author, and adviser, Jessica is also the host of the Pillow Talk Sessions podcast.

  Abode Worldwide

  CEO

  Moderator

  Jessica Gillingham

  CEO

  Abode Worldwide

Liveability and Returns: Delivering Value, Sustainability and Places People Choose To Stay

Retention Tactics, Sustainable Living, and Cost Savings

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  Donna Mckitterick

  ESG Director

  Get Living

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  Kevin Watson

  Kevin has 15 years of experience in the Property, Telecommunications and Media industries spanning Operations, Pricing, Customer Service, Business Transformation, Strategy and M&A. Alongside his role as Operations & Commercial Director at PLATFORM_ he is co-chair of the UKAA Operations Committee and sits on the British Property Federation’s Residential Management Committee. Prior to joining PLATFORM_, he held a number of senior roles at Virgin Media, including Head of Customer Value Management for the 5 million household Consumer business and Head of Value Creation. Kevin began his career at L.E.K. Consulting in London advising leading corporates and PE funds. He holds a degree in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford.

  Platform_

  Operations and Commercial Director

  Kevin Watson

  Operations and Commercial Director

  Platform_

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  Sam Winnard

  Sam has over 20 years experience within residential management. As Head of Real Asset Operations at Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) Sam is responsible for setting up and overseeing the BTR platform which has delivered over 2,300 operational BTR units since 2023 across sites in Manchester, London, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Reading. Previously Sam was a National Director at JLL responsible for Property Management before establishing and leading a dedicated Build to Rent management team.

  PIC

  Head of Built to Rent Operations

  Sam Winnard

  Head of Built to Rent Operations

  PIC

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  Guillermo Dekker

  Guillermo is a visionary leader at Evolution Sustainability Group transforming European commercial real estate to become efficient and cost savvy. He orchestrates the company’s European Union operations with a blend of expertise and passion for sustainability. With over a decade of experience in renewable energy integration, energy efficiency, and sustainable development. His impressive career includes spearheading transformative projects for both the private and public sectors, such as the development of impact studies for the European Environment Agency (EEA). These studies have played a crucial role in shaping the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Guillermo’s in-depth knowledge of European sustainability standards and regulations ensures that his initiatives not only meet but exceed legislative expectations. Guillermo's knack for market expansion is well-documented, supported by his extensive network and strategic partnerships with influential sustainability organizations like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN). His efforts are pivotal in fostering collaboration and driving business growth for Evolution Sustainability Group across Europe.

  Evolution Sustainability Group

  Managing Director, Europe

  Moderator

  Guillermo Dekker

  Managing Director, Europe

  Evolution Sustainability Group

Consent vs Building: The BTR Development Playbook

Growth potential, challenges, and market dynamics for BTR projects in city centres and outside central urban locations

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  Thomasin Renshaw

  Thomasin Renshaw is a Managing Director and leads the UK Development and Construction teams.  Thomasin leads the development strategy and execution of all BTR and PBSA developments across the UK. This includes Pearl Yard in Bermondsey and One Medlock Street in Manchester. Before joining Greystar, Thomasin served as Chief Development Officer at Pocket Living, Director of Development (Head of South Molton Triangle) at Grosvenor Britain & Ireland and Development Director at Muse. She has over 20 years of experience leading complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects across London and the UK. Thomasin holds a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics from University College London and a Master of Science in Surveying from the University of Reading. She is a Fellow of RICS (Planning and Development). 

  Greystar

  Managing Director, UK Development

  Thomasin Renshaw

  Managing Director, UK Development

  Greystar

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  David Woodward

  David Woodward is Chief Executive of CompassRock International and GAA Living (GAA), with over 30 years of leadership in global rental housing. Formerly Global Head of Multifamily at Brookfield, he oversaw portfolios exceeding 50,000 units and led landmark projects in cities including London, Berlin, and New York. He founded CompassRock with Fortress Investment Group, spearheading the $5.4bn turnaround and sale of Stuyvesant Town, New York City – the largest single-asset real estate transaction in U.S. history. A UC Berkeley graduate and twice named ‘Executive of the Year’ by leading multifamily publications, David is a recognised global leader in institutional rental housing and a frequent speaker at international real estate forums.

  CompassRock

  CEO

  David Woodward

  CEO

  CompassRock

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  Nick Rutherford

  Nick trained at the University of Nottingham where he graduated with a Bachelor, Diploma and Master of Architecture, his thesis gaining critical acclaim. He joined tp bennett in 2006 where he qualified as an architect. He then spent periods at John McAslan + Partners and Allies and Morrison, before re-joining the practice as a design director in 2018 and now leads the blended living studio. An accomplished designer and expert in design management, Nick leads his projects and teams by example, at all RIBA stages. He has delivered numerous masterplans and notable buildings in the UK and abroad – some earning RIBA award status – and has collaborated with the UK government on humanitarian initiatives including post-disaster housing. Over his career Nick has attained a series of professional qualifications, which underpin his experience and outreach at the practice. He is a certified RIBA Conservation Architect, holds a RIBA Certificate in Construction Project Management, is a member of the chartered Association for Project Management and a judge for the Architects Journal.

  tp bennett

  Director

  Nick Rutherford

  Director

  tp bennett

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  Damien Sharkey

  Damien Sharkey is Managing Director of independent developer, HUB. He is keenly involved in all aspects of the business, leading the development process of its current £3.3bn pipeline from acquisition and funding through design, consultation, planning, procurement, and delivery to completion. An architect by background, Damien remains passionate about design and ensures maximum value through bespoke and thoughtful design, creativity, technical accuracy, and efficient delivery for all of HUB’s portfolio. Established in 2012, HUB has more than 9,300 homes completed or under development across the UK from Bath to Edinburgh. HUB focusses on transformative, high-quality living schemes with intentional design, from BTR-led regeneration to pioneering adaptive reuse in city centres – including the City of London’s first co-living homes, being delivered through office conversions. Known for developing one of London’s first institutionally backed BTR schemes, HUB has continued to deliver industry leading living-led regeneration developments comprising BTR, co-living, PBSA and affordable homes.

  HUB

  Managing Director

  Damien Sharkey

  Managing Director

  HUB

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  Niki Kyriacou

  Niki Kyriacou is Sector Lead at NHBC, where she oversees client engagement and activity within the Build to Rent (BTR) market. With over 20 years’ experience in property and communications, she brings a thoughtful and strategic approach to relationship management and business development. Her work includes leading initiatives such as BTR Innovators that reflect NHBC’s commitment to sector excellence and collaborative growth. Prior to NHBC, Niki held senior roles at Property Week, where she specialised in partnerships, campaign strategy and event development. She played a key role in shaping flagship residential property events including RESI and the RESI Awards, and led initiatives such as RESI Trailblazers and Joint Victories, designed to spotlight emerging talent and successful public-private collaboration. Niki also served on the board of the NSPCC, where she helped raise awareness and funds for Childline through industry events –demonstrating her belief in the power of property to positively impact communities. As a mentor, Niki draws on her experience in leadership, communications and stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about supporting others in navigating career transitions, building confidence and developing a clear sense of purpose. Outside of work, she enjoys reformer pilates, reading, exploring Mediterranean cuisine – often inspired by her Greek-Cypriot heritage – and her role as a mum to two teenage sons.

  NHBC

  Sector Lead

  Moderator

  Niki Kyriacou

  Sector Lead

  NHBC

Owning the Stack

Inside Ridgeback's £1.5B Bet on UK BTR

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  Duncan Walker

  Duncan is a Founding Partner at Ridgeback Group, one of the largest developers, owners and operators of BTR in the UK. Prior to Ridgeback, Duncan was a Main Board Director at Helical Plc, one of the most highly regarded FTSE listed real estate companies.

  Ridgeback

  Principal

  Duncan Walker

  Principal

  Ridgeback

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  Nick Mumby

  Nick advises in relation to all aspects of real estate work, with a particular expertise in complex development and regeneration projects. He acts for a mix of private developers, public companies and local authorities and has advised on acquisitions, disposals, developments, planning, leasing, financing and the real estate aspects of corporate transactions. His broad client base means that he has acted on major BTR schemes, city-office developments, mixed-use schemes, and sub-urban housing and regeneration projects. Highlights include advising Quintain on the latest phase of the Wembley Park scheme, advising U+I on a joint venture with TfL to bring forward a mixed-use regeneration project in Southwark and advising Aldgate Developments on the development, letting and sale of One Braham.

  Gowling WLG

  Partner

  Moderator

  Nick Mumby

  Partner

  Gowling WLG

Opening Remarks

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  Alastair Mullens

  Alastair joined CWG in 2018, to establish the group’s Build-to-Rent platform, Vertus. He currently oversees Vertus’s day-to day activities, the groups residential leasehold management arm, Canary Wharf Residential Management Limited, and the groups Technology & Transformation function. Prior to this he spent nine years with Hamptons International & Countrywide Group based in London and Hong Kong. In his final role at Countrywide as National Director of Corporate PRS & BTR, he oversaw the successful delivery of the group’s operational management platform which included the delivery of The Cargo Building, Liverpool and Pomona Wharf, Manchester.

  Canary Wharf Group

  Managing Director - Residential

  Alastair Mullens

  Managing Director - Residential

  Canary Wharf Group