Developer's senior appointment to bolster land acquisitions

Housing developer Living Space has made a senior appointment to strengthen its land acquisitions and partnership developments.

Chris Loizou (pictured) has joined the team as Land and Partnerships director, with a focus on securing residential sites across the heart of England.

He joins Living Space from Owl Homes Ltd, where he held the position of Land and Partnerships director and quickly established rapid growth for the Tamworth-based housebuilder.

He secured 15 residential developments for its Homes, Partnership Homes and Strategic housing divisions, totalling 926 housing plots.

Prior to that Chris was head of Land and Development for Partner Construction Ltd where he secured residential sites for mixed tenure affordable housing.

He has also previously worked for Galliford Try Partnerships, Family Housing Association, Concept Development Solutions, and Barratt Homes - where he commenced his career in 2004.

Steve Davies, managing director of Living Space Housing, commented on Chris' appointment and said: “We are delighted that a land specialist with the gravitas that Chris has in the marketplace is joining the team.

"There are some very exciting opportunities for partnership developments where we can add significant value.

“Where we differ from others working in the affordable housing market is our ability to design, build and sell homes for private sale.

"At our largest current scheme - Malvern Oaks in Herefordshire - we have successfully combined 65 per cent affordable housing, with the remaining 35 per cent of the scheme selling very well on the open market.

"To make other schemes viable, the requirement for an element of private development may be a much smaller percentage, or indeed - as with a number of our other schemes - private development may not be needed.

"We can be entirely flexible and maximise the value and potential out of all suitable sites. ”

Chris said: “With so much political focus on predominantly developing on inner city brownfield land, there is a chronic shortage of quality affordable housing being delivered in the UK, especially family homes.

"The team here has already established a proven track record for unlocking stalled development sites and the opportunities to deliver much-needed affordable homes on a greater scale are very exciting.

“Living Space 's partnership ethos is very refreshing, which is what attracted me to join.

I am looking forward to meeting all the partners we are actively working with and introducing new contacts."