Shaping the future of new builds through development consultancy services

R&R Head of Business Development, Jo Watson explains the key role that Rendall & Rittner’s development consultancy services can play in successful residential development. 

Placemaking is much talked about and is now considered one of the most important elements of successful residential development. Creating thriving new-build schemes is about much more than delivering homes; it’s about shaping places where people genuinely want to live. That means considering amenities, transport links, green spaces and shared environments, alongside how communities will function and evolve over time.

While architects and developers shape the physical design, property managers bring a vital operational perspective. We are the custodians of buildings and communities once they are occupied - responsible for day-to-day management, resident experience and long-term stewardship. That insight is invaluable when developments are being planned, particularly on large and complex schemes where decisions made early on can have long-lasting implications.

This is why involving a property manager at the earliest stages of the planning process can add real value. At Rendall & Rittner, our development consultancy services support clients from concept design through to long-term estate management, helping to create places that are not only attractive at completion but practical, compliant and sustainable over the long term.

Developers increasingly ask us to contribute estate management strategies as part of planning submissions, demonstrating that stewardship and operational viability are embedded from the outset. We regularly see how early-stage consultancy can strengthen planning applications and help avoid challenges further down the line.

Our work often begins with a Design for Management review, carried out in close collaboration with the wider project team. This considers both front- and back-of-house areas from the perspective of residents, building managers, commercial occupiers and the wider estate. Too often, schemes are designed without fully accounting for how they will operate day to day. By advising early on layout, infrastructure and service provision, we help to design out inefficiencies, reduce future operating costs and improve the resident experience.

Enhancing liveability is central to our approach. From shaping customer journeys and amenity management strategies to supporting robust operational policies and staff training, we help clients plan for consistent, resident-focused service from day one. Sustainability is also a key consideration, including advice on energy-efficient systems and utilities. Through our sector-leading bulk procurement initiatives, we support clients in reducing both costs and carbon.

Regulation is another critical area where early input makes a difference. With increasing demands under the Building Safety Act, developers face a complex and evolving compliance landscape. Our dedicated health and safety team is one of the largest in the industry, including building safety and fire safety experts. They can advise on how requirements such as the Golden Thread can be embedded into design and management strategies from the start, rather than retrofitted later.

Placemaking extends beyond the physical environment. Community engagement is embedded into our thinking even at the earliest stages of development. Our ‘design for living’ philosophy considers how people will connect, interact and build a sense of belonging in new communities. Through initiatives such as our Residents’ Club, community events, charity partnerships and the careful management of shared spaces, we help bring places to life long after residents move in.

A strong example of this approach is Earl’s Court, where we were part of the consultant team supporting the planning submission to transform the former exhibition centre into a new global destination. Working on a masterplan for 4,000 homes, we helped embed estate management and service charge strategies from the outset, supporting the planning process and laying the groundwork for a sustainable, well-integrated community.

Ultimately, successful developments are about more than achieving planning consent. They must work operationally, remain financially viable and become desirable places to live. By involving property management expertise early and focusing on how developments will function in practice, developers can create communities that stand the test of time.