Citygrove has poached a leading developer from Nigel Hugill’s Urban & Civic to lead a new push into the central London office market.
The firm has appointed Rob Lane as joint managing director. He joins on 2 September.
Lane worked for Terrace Hill, which was taken over by Urban & Civic in spring 2014, from 1994 with responsibility for the sourcing and development of central London and Thames Valley office and mixed-use projects. He has spent the past 12 years as development director on the main board.
His projects include the 68,000 sq ft 129 Wilton Road, SW1, the 22,500 sq ft 24 Savile Row, W1, and 144,000 sq ft 5 Howick Place, SW1.
The hire is part of a new strategy by Citygrove to move away from its leisure roots and push into central London offices. It comes as the business, led by Toby Baines, builds a stronghold in the prime residential sector.
Fresh from selling its proposed £600m Jenga Tower in Vauxhall, SW7, to DAMAC, Citygrove, with jv partner McLaren and backing from Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley, splashed more than £200m on John Lewis’s Clearings site in Chelsea, SW3, where 69 luxury homes are planned.
Alongside Lane, Citygrove has appointed Tom Burn from Savills’ residential team as an associate.
