How can we ensure large multi-phase developments are desirable, thriving communities in the long-term?

Involving us from the outset

In years gone by managing agents were often seen as the final piece in the jigsaw for new residential development, arriving at the end of the project to manage the scheme once occupied and completed. However as our expertise and diverse skillset has come to be more recognised across the industry, the value of a managing agent with the requisite skills playing a role from the early stages of a project has grown. This is particularly true of large-scale, multi-phase schemes where residents will be in situ from the early phases, as the development progresses often over a decade or more.

Impact on sales levels

These developments require a level of strategic oversight that ensures early phases remain well managed and desirable, community cohesion is fostered, and the evolving environment continues to attract buyers and tenants. For developers and Build-to-Rent operators, selecting the right managing agent can have a direct impact on not only resident satisfaction, but also sales levels. A well-maintained development creates a positive first impression for prospective buyers, while an engaged and thriving community helps to build desirability among home-movers with positive word-of-mouth recommendations. A happy and engaged resident community that adds value to the local area is also a major benefit when the developer seeks planning for future phases of the development.

Kidbrooke Village

At Kidbrooke Village near Greenwich we have been working with Berkeley Group on a transformational 20-year development replacing the former Ferrier Estate with an exemplary new sustainable London suburb. We oversee all aspects of estate management, from private residential buildings to extensive green spaces and key community facilities. Our team has played a vital ongoing role, with farmers’ markets, seasonal events, and community activities that enhance the resident experience. This has helped make Kidbrooke Village a desirable new neighbourhood for South East London with high sales demand on each subsequent phase.

Woodberry Down

A key requirement for a collaborative managing agent working with the developer from the start of a multi-phase long-term project is the ability to effectively grow the managing team as the development grows in scale and complexity. Woodberry Down is a substantial regeneration scheme in North London that currently comprises more than 1,700 homes, with an ultimate goal of delivering 5,500 by 2040. Its extensive facilities include resident lounges, gyms, swimming pools, and multiple energy centres. We have built our dedicated team there to 44 members on-site, including five concierge offices and two estate management offices which have provided a firm foundation for the scheme’s ongoing growth and sales success. We work with the key stakeholders at the scheme and provide extensive support for the community engagement programme and assistance with sustainability initiatives.

Looking ahead

Many more developers are seeing the value of bringing on board a managing agent with development consultancy skills from the pre-planning stage. This helps to deliver a management strategy that can support the long-term success of a project over its full lifecycle. Our consultancy team is now being regularly called upon to advise at the preliminary stages of some of the UK’s most exciting new long-term projects. 

At Dagenham Green, a regeneration project delivering 3,500 homes, we recently modelled service charges, planned for voids, and provided input into design and fit-out decisions in ways that would benefit various stakeholders including Peabody, Hill Group, BTR operators and future commercial occupiers. While on the high-profile Earls Court redevelopment we’ve advised our client on estate management and service charge forecasting for the 4,000-home masterplan, ensuring long-term sustainability and cost efficiency post planning approval.

In summary

Across these projects the key factor has been balancing a focus on the desired sales programming of the client, whilst simultaneously meeting the needs and expectations of existing residents in earlier phases of the development. A good managing agent must work in collaboration to ensure the early phases of the development are attractive, well maintained and serve the needs of residents in a way that will improve the desirability of the scheme and contribute to its sales success. At Rendall & Rittner we’ve walked the full journey on long-term schemes for multiple clients, giving us a deep understanding of the complexities of multi-phase projects, and putting us in a position to deliver even greater value now and in the future. 

Richard Daver, Co-CEO, Rendall & Rittner