Montagu Evans has appointed John Weir from The Church Commissioners for England to head up its planning department.
Weir, who will join the business in October, was head of real assets at The Church Commissioners for England with responsibility for the investment and asset management of more than £2bn held directly and indirectly in property portfolios across the UK and overseas.
Craig Blatchford, who has spent the past seven years as head of the firm’s planning department, is remaining with Montagu Evans and will continue advising clients and play an active role in the department following Weir’s arrival.
Alan Harris, managing partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Spearheaded for seven successful years by Craig Blatchford, who will remain with the firm, our planning department has built unsurpassed capability for unlocking value for clients in complex scenarios. This set of skills and expertise has never been more in demand than today, when clients are facing particularly challenging market conditions, not least the far-reaching implications of the upcoming revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and continuing viability pressures.
“At this pivotal moment for planning and development, John brings invaluable experience leading real estate strategy and operations at The Church Commissioners for England. Throughout his career he has worked with a range of asset classes and, in consultancy roles, with the public and private sectors and is a long standing, trusted adviser to c-suites. John will play a critical role in helping clients navigate fast-moving and challenging market conditions, bringing exceptional experience, expertise and connections that will allow us to unlock even more value for our clients.”
Weir added: “Montagu Evans combines a strong platform with a team of exceptional calibre. It is well placed to support clients through a complex market, from development viability and cost of finance to increasing regulatory pressure in planning. That clarity of advice and focus on outcomes is what makes the firm stand out and I’m looking forward to contributing to the next phase of growth.”
