A former development director at General Projects and the founder of developer FORE Partnership have joined forces to found a new developer called MORE. The new business created by Ben Cross, ex-architect and former development director at General Projects, and Basil Demeroutis, former aerospace engineer and founder of developer FORE Partnership, is marketing itself as a disruptor.
“The traditional development model wasn’t built to solve the challenges we face today,” said Cross. “It rewards bloated spending over efficient savings, pushes risk down the chain and often treats innovation as an afterthought. MORE is a deliberate rejection of that model.”
Cross also has previous experience working on regeneration schemes in London in his previous role at HUB Group, as well as more than a decade of experience as an architect consulting on projects for British Land and Stanhope, among others.
Demeroutis also has a wealth of experience, most recently in achieving market-leading rents of £98.50 with a lease to fintech company Allfunds at FORE Partnership’s TBC.London at 24 Tower Bridge Road, SE1. He is also credited with building Scotland’s first Net-Zero carbon office and Manchester’s first BREEAM Outstanding multi-let.
The duo’s new venture has already lined up its first project – the retrofit of the Grade II listed, James Stirling-designed One Poultry, EC2.
The two believe they can use their combined expertise to unlock further development through “right-sizing interventions”, which they say will unlock better financial returns.
Demeroutis said: “Innovation isn’t just a ‘features arms race. It’s about redefining the rules. Every other industry has reinvented itself multiple times over the last hundred years. Meanwhile, real estate has barely moved. Disruption is overdue”.
Image © Rob Evans at WithLove.Studio
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