Property company: Stoford Developments
When Admiral Insurance put pen to paper on a 220,000 sq ft office deal in Cardiff, it was the biggest prelet in Wales and it put Midlands-based developer Stoford Developments firmly on the map outside its home stomping ground.
Last year the firm secured planning and forward funding for the scheme, which no doubt helped garner it votes from Estates Gazette’s readers to secure the Property Company of the Year award for Wales and the South West.
“We made a conscious decision, based on our success in the Midlands, to spread the net and the transactions we have secured in Wales and the South West are a direct result of that,” says Dan Gallagher, managing director at Stoford.
Other notable deals for the company include securing a prelet from the Co-op for a distribution unit in Avonmouth, and an office prelet to Simplyhealth in Bristol.
“We are actively pursing opportunities in Wales and the South West and there are plenty there,” says Gallagher.
The firm has also been named West Midlands Property Company of the Year for the third time.
Property adviser: Savills
For the second year in a row, Savills has collected EG’s Wales and South West property adviser gong. Andrew Main, director of UK investment at Savills, Bristol says: “We are thrilled to have won for the second year in a row and would like to thank everyone who voted for us.”
Main acknowledges that trading conditions have been tough, but puts the success down to good client service and working on some of the biggest projects in the area. Those included the £58.7m forward funding of the new Admiral Insurance offices in Cardiff on behalf of Stoford, a real headline-grabber.
The comparatively modest sale of the 190-bed Pro-Cathedral student accommodation in Bristol for £5.8m was cited as another highlight.
St Modwen, last year’s winner of property company for Wales and South West, is one of Savills’ satisfied clients. Rupert Joseland, regional director at St Modwen, says: “They offer a very good service. They are very focused in terms of client satisfaction and do a good job.”
