New Directors strengthen CBRE’s planning and development team

CBRE has strengthened its Midlands planning and development team with the appointment of Ian Harris and Michelle Simpson-Gallego as senior director and director respectively.

Ian has nearly 30 years’ experience, working both agency and client side in various roles, including acquisition manager for Focus Wickes and more recently headed up development activities at Capital and Regional’s retail park division, The Junction Fund.

He joins CBRE from Wolford Ltd, a company set up by Ian in 2009 to provide development management and consultancy services to retail and industrial sector clients including Hammerson plc, DTZ IM, Travis Perkins and Mercian Developments Ltd.

Michelle has more than 20 years’ experience in planning, having started her career in the public sector before moving to the private sector to join Pegasus Group as a planning consultant, where she worked for 17 years rising to associate director.

Her experience includes strategic planning for the residential sector, advising developers, house builders and other strategic land promoters.

Both Ian and Michelle will be based in CBRE’s Birmingham office.

Simon Phillips, director and head of CBRE’s Midlands and South West planning team, said: “These latest appointments are a direct response to increasing demand for our services and to support the future growth plans of the business. We are working on a number of high-profile schemes for a variety of private and public sector clients across commercial, residential, infrastructure, regeneration and education sectors and these strategic appointments will help us to exceed our ambitions.”

“Ian and Michelle are valuable additions to the team, given their collective experience and sector specialisms, which will further broaden our service offer.”

Ashley Hancox, Midlands and South West executive director for planning and development, said: “This latest round of senior appointments further strengthens our established and well-respected development and planning capability, serving corporate and private investors, as well as occupier customers.  

“A wealth of public sector clientele including local authorities, higher and further education and healthcare bodies across commercial and residential sectors, will also benefit. We are delighted to be responding positively to the opportunities offered by the Government’s levelling up agenda and the private sector’s recognition of good value in the UK regions.”