England cricketing legend Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff tried to keep a low profile at MIPIM.
“We’re quiet about what we’re working on, because we’re quiet lads,” he says.
Flintoff, 40, doesn’t drink and says he has “no desire” to spend his evenings standing on the corner of Café Roma.
“We rented this place and we just catch up there [in the evenings], which is nice.”
If he is looking for a new life below the radar, then picking an industry with a culture of doing business during trips to Lord’s or the Oval won’t make it easy.
Of his first trip to MIPIM last year, Flintoff says: “It was strange because you were walking around and everyone’s looking at you, doing a double take and saying, ‘what are you doing here?’”
This year, he was not short of attention from MIPIM delegates, who he met with his fellow Logik Developments directors, Neil Spencer (Flintoff’s cousin) and developer Tony Bhatti.
Residential plans
“We’ve very much been under the radar, we’re going about our business. The projects we are getting involved with we believe will speak for themselves,” he says.
The trio launched plans for their first major residential project last October – a 386-unit scheme at the site of the former DOT Motorcycle Factory on Arundel Street in Castlefield, Manchester.
A planning application has been submitted and they are in discussions with potential funders.
The 36-storey, SimpsonHaugh-designed scheme would comprise 171 flats for sale and 215 flats for private rent, alongside some commercial space and residential support facilities.
READ MORE: How SimpsonHaugh transforms city skylines
Logik has since acquired 58 Baring Street and another plot within the boundary of the council’s Mayfield framework, which it plans to bring forward as a hotel with some residential.
Flintoff, who recently made his stage debut in Fat Friends the Musical, says he wants to spend more time working in property than he does now, juggling it with his TV work.
“The ambition was never to be on telly, I just stumbled into it,” he says.
“And don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it and I’m thankful, but [it’s] the property side I really enjoy. I just want to go to work and go home at night and do something I’m interested in. And then see the benefits of what you’re doing.”
He adds: “Throughout my career I’ve invested money in property in various ways – some good, some bad – and it’s something I’ve always had an interest in.”
Learning the trade
Flintoff became interested in commercial property as a cricketer, seeing the negative impact of the England Academy at Loughborough University, which he described in his autobiography as costing “English cricket several million pounds a year, yet we don’t even own it…I’d knock it down and turn it into affordable housing.”
He says he is still learning the trade.
“There are people who have done it for years and years. And I found myself in a lot of meetings, especially initially doing a lot of listening. It was like being a 16 year old back in a dressing room for the first time when you look around at all these guys who have been doing it for years. And you want to listen to them, you want to learn.”
Has he learnt anything from fellow Northern star sportsman-turned-developer Gary Neville, who initially received a huge public backlash for two proposed Manchester city centre towers?
“I think sometimes [fame] can help; sometimes it can hinder as well… I think the one thing I realised all the way through what I do is surrounding yourself with the best people.
READ MORE: Neville’s redesigned £200m tower approved
“For planning consultants we’re using Deloitte, we’re using SimpsonHaugh on Arundel Street as architect, and whether I was playing cricket or whatever I wanted to work with the best cultures, I wanted to work with the best people, play in the best teams.
“And that’s probably the attitude you’re taking towards this. And last year the chat was all about collaboration; we work with the council, we work with Historic England, there’s no point putting a scheme forward that they don’t want to see. It’s all about working together.”
Worthwhile ambition
Future ambitions include schemes in Preston and also Bolton, where Logik has been in discussion with the council about delivering part of its £1bn masterplan.
Logik is also interested in developing student housing, which Flintoff sees as an area he can combine with his work around improving understanding of mental health issues.
Believe what you will about Flintoff’s plans to work below the radar as a property developer, he appears to be enjoying working with the industry at MIPIM.
“It’s very worthwhile,” he says. “I think you get to spend time with people from the council, people you’re working with, in a more informal environment.
“You just have a chance to chat. Meetings that might take months back home, or weeks, to organise, can happen because everyone’s here. So it’s been worthwhile, to be honest.”
To send feedback, e-mail Louisa.Clarence-Smith@egi.co.uk or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette
