Simon Spencer
Director
Simon has over 20 years experience in industrial/distribution property development, most recently with ProLogis Developments in the UK.
Graduating in 1989, Simon began his career at DTZ. Joining Knight Frank, he was partner in charge of Agency for five years, based in the Birmingham office.
In 2005 Simon joined Astral Developments Ltd as a Director. This private company established itself as a leading Warehouse and Distribution Developer with an annual development turnover of circa 2 million sq ft and a medium to long term development pipeline of over 12 million sq ft.
At Astral Developments Simon worked alongside leading figures in the development industry such as John Cutts, Steven Ferris and Richard Saint.
In 2007 Astral Developments was acquired by ProLogis Developments as part of ProLogis’s purchase of several Parkridge Group companies. Simon continued to work on the live Astral Development projects and managed owned schemes until he left ProLogis in December 2008.
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Royal Mail, Northampton
While working as Development Manager for Aviva Investors Simon secured Royal Mail’s new 200,000 sq ft sorting and distribution facility at Swan Valley in Northampton. The new freehold development was won through a competitive OJEU bidding process. Complex negotiations were lengthy but successful. Royal Mail are occupying the new facility in late 2009.
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Beake Avenue, Coventry
On behalf of Deutche Bank, now known as Rreef, Simon project managed the master planning and planning process to replace a 240,000 sq ft 1960’s manufacturing unit with a mixed use residential and business unit scheme. The planning promotion was successful and planning consent for 132 new dwellings and a new 32,000 sq ft business unit scheme was secured. The project included the demolition of the existing buildings, negotiation over various easements with adjoining landowners and remediation of the site.
New Horizon Park, Coventry
While at Astral, Simon acquired a former Marconi manufacturing complex off the A444 Pheonix Way in Coventry. Planning permission was secured for a new 225,000 sq ft manufacturing and distribution facility. The scheme was forward sold to Frogmore Real Estate Partners.
The scheme, now known as Rivet, was developed with the environment in mind, both in construction and ongoing environmental enhancements.
Crushed concrete, tarmac and masonry was re-used along with refurbishment of the existing sprinkler supply and tank.
Lightweight and modular materials were used to reduce waste during construction and the natural boundary landscaping retained to help security and acoustics.
Specific environmental enhancements include:
- Carbon neutral wall and roof cladding system to the warehouse
- Motorised external blinds to the office elevations
- Solar hot water heating to the office toilets
- Recycled ‘grey’ rainwater for toilet flushing
- Spray mixer taps and dual flush toilets
- Digital metering to the incoming services
- Segregated waste/recycling stations
- Heat recovery to the ventilation system
- Energy efficient lamps (PIR controlled) to the office areas