Called Populate, the new company will provide consultancy services through the design and development phases of projects.
This will include modern approaches to leasing to promote social value and green lease clauses, “enlivenment” through art and culture and initiatives to foster local business partnerships.
Populate will be led by Olaide Obah (pictured above), who retains her position on the board of Socius. Barry Jessup, managing director at Socius, will be chair of Populate.
The company - 100% owned by Socius - has also appointed Joss Taylor as head of activation and enlivenment.
Joss joins from Bow Arts Trust where he spent three years as head of enterprise and placemaking.
Also joining the team is Neil Barber, Claire Cockerton, Jupiter Lee-Butz and Ray Cliff.
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Neil has over 20 years’ experience in the retail and leisure sector and led the leasing of both Liverpool One and Bluewater, while Claire Cockerton is co-founder of Level39 in Canary Wharf and Founder of Plexal on the Olympic Park.
Meanwhile, Jupiter led the creation of the pioneering co-working community Factory Berlin, and Ray has extensive experience in shopping centre management for Hammerson, CBRE, Lendlease and Realm.
“We are passionate about addressing local needs through development but one of the fundamental challenges the industry faces is ensuring the operational infrastructure and expertise is in place to realise the true value of projects over the long term,” said Olaide.
“Our multi-disciplinary team will pick up the baton from the development process and take a long-term approach to creating vibrant and sustainable places that support communities and provide a platform for businesses to collaborate, innovate and grow. We are here to ensure that all of the good intentions when a development is designed and delivered translate into tangible social and economic benefits for communities, occupiers and investors for years to come.”
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