Paul Willmott OBE, is joining Bidwells as head of planning in Cambridge in April.
He joins from CBRE where he was a senior director in the firm’s London planning team.
Willmott has extensive experience in delivering planning approvals for major mixed-use schemes including the Francis Crick Institute, a new 1m sq ft, £600m research facility, the largest in Europe.
He also led on the Harrow View proposals for a major 55-acre mixed-use development of strategic industrial land to deliver 387,000 sq ft of commercial and 54,000 sq ft of retail floor space together with 1,200 residential units.
He has worked with Ballymore, Barrett Homes and Transport for London for a host of key sectors such as health, education and life sciences.
Mike Derbyshire, head of planning at Bidwells, said: “We are delighted that Paul will be joining Bidwells. His capability is perfectly aligned to our firm’s strategy of offering clients access to specialist high growth real estate markets in the Golden Triangle of Oxford, Cambridge and London and sector-leading work in the science and technology and education sectors.”
Willmott added: “After 10 years of exile in London, I am delighted to be returning to the region and to such a highly respected company as Bidwells, the preeminent property adviser within the Cambridge-Oxford-London Golden Triangle. It is an exciting time given the growth of the business and the importance that our region has to the future of the UK.”
Willmott will also shortly complete more than 30 years’ service in the Army Reserve. He has risen from the rank of private soldier to colonel and was awarded an OBE for leadership by the Queen in 2006.
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