James Struth
Director

Summary of Experience

James has come from a background in residential development where, firstly as principal and then as agent and consultant at Savills, he was involved in the acquisition and disposal of development land in and around Greater London.

James has acted for a number of the major UK national house builders, piecing together sites and opportunities on both unconditional and subject to planning scenarios.

James was also involved extensively in the forward sale of residential units in new developments to private investors and bulk investors.

Following his time as Savills, James has run a number of property companies acting as developer and consultant in a variety of development and investment opportunities. For details information, see the "Case Studies" page.

In general, James has acquired sites through joint ventures with funding partners and has undertaken to appoint the appropriate professional team to achieve the necessary planning consents. James has managed the process from beginning to end including instruction of the full professional team and subsequent site sales.

Following successful grant of consent, the sites have been either developed out or sold on to housebuilders for construction.

Specific Project Experience

• Fairfield Road, Bow, London, E3
  
  A 1.48 acre brown-field site located to the east of Bow within walking distance of the Olympic Village.
  
  The site was assembled from three separate ownerships over the course of 2003/4, one on an unconditional basis and two on a subject to planning basis.
  
  The intention with the site was to maximise the residential potential and then to sell on to either a housing association or residential developer.
  
  We were faced with a number of complex challenges including the Underground running under part of the site, an adjoining railway, a Grade II listed Bus Depot and Cross Rail wanting to divert a sewer under the site.
  
  Planning permission was granted in September 2005 for 146 residential flats and 217.5 sq meters of mixed commercial space.
  
  Subsequently following a full marketing campaign to both the private and affordable housing sectors the site was sold to Genesis Housing Association.


• Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, London E14
  
  A brown field site acquired in February 2002 extending to approximately is a 0.2 acre located on the western side of the Isle of Dogs.
  
  The site was acquired on an unconditional basis with a view to maximising the residential planning potential and then either trading the asset on to a house builder or building out and selling the flats.
  
  After protracted planning negotiations consent was granted for a residential development totalling 13 private flats.
  
  The site was subsequently sold in February 2005 to Israeli Developers 'Regnum Ltd'.


• Leytonstone High Road, London E11
  
  A former Esso Petrol Filling Station extending to 0.37 acres acquired in May 2004 on a subject to planning basis.
  
  The intention was to obtain planning permission for an entirely affordable housing scheme and then to sell it to a Housing Association.
  
  Planning permission was obtained in November 2004 for 42 affordable flats and the site was simultaneously sold to Toynbee Housing Association.