Martyn Evans is to return to U+I after a three-year absence to take up his former role as creative director.
Richard Upton, the company’s deputy chief executive, said that bringing Evans back into the fold was to reassert its commitment to delivering “exceptional regeneration… that brings long-lasting change for local people and businesses”. He will start back at U+I next month and will be responsible for delivering “the creative strategy to support U+I in its ambition to deliver purposeful, world class regeneration throughout its development portfolio”.
U+I has an £11bn pipeline of mixed-use regeneration projects across Greater London, Dublin and Manchester including the former headquarters of London Fire Brigade at 8 Albert Embankment, SE1 and the former Mayfield depot in Manchester.
Evans left U+I in 2016 to establish his own consultancy, Uncommon, and at the start of 2017 took up the role of estate development director at the 1,200-acre Darlington Hall Estate in Devon, which he will now be leaving. At the start of this year he became non-executive chair of the board of Brick by Brick, Croydon Council’s development company, a post he will remain in. Additionally he is the deputy chair of the London Festival of Architecture and co-founder of networking and learning programme Young Architects and Developers Alliance.
U+I was formed when Development Securities bought Upton’s Cathedral Group in 2015 where Evans was a board member.
Evans said: “I’ve spent the last three years learning a great deal in a place that’s very different from the city centres where U+I traditionally operates.
But I come back to the company at a hugely exciting time, full of ideas, inspiration and purpose to sort out what feels, for me, like unfinished business. It feels very good to be back together with a team that I have always felt are the best in the industry.”
Upton added: “It has been over three and a half years since Matthew [Weiner, chief executive] and I co-founded U+I and our determination to deliver exceptional regeneration that celebrates place, history and community, while driving socio-economic growth, has been unwavering.
“Ultimately, we want to create great places that bring long-lasting change for local people and businesses, and that deliver for our partners and shareholders. To do that successfully, we need the best possible creative talent, which is why we’re delighted to welcome Martyn back to U+I. Quite frankly, he is best in class and being best in class is our corporate ambition.”
Further reading: A column from Evans on the need for the public sector to provide affordable housing
