Liverpool bolsters new-look development team
Following the appointment of Nuala Gallagher last week, Sophie Bevan has joined the city council from the combined authority to lead on a raft of high-profile schemes.
In her role as director of development and major projects at Liverpool City Council, Bevan will report to Gallagher and oversee schemes including Festival Gardens, Kings Dock, Anfield Square, Paddington Village, and Littlewoods Studios.
Liverpool-born Bevan said she was “delighted” to be joining the city council.
“There’s never been a more exciting time to be a part of Liverpool’s story – with so many ground-breaking developments underway and schemes that will help stimulate economic growth and jobs for our residents. I cannot wait to get started.”
Bevan is currently senior investment manager at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and will join the city council in May.
Her previous jobs include stints as retail and leisure director at Allied London, associate partner at Knight Frank, and associate director at Europa Capital Partners.
“Sophie has the vision, passion and dedication to excel in this role,” said Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson.
“She is an outstanding professional who brings with her more than 25 years of investment and development experience in both the public and private sectors. I welcome her appointment, which further strengthens the senior team at the council and will undoubtedly help us deliver better outcomes for our residents.”
Bevan’s appointment is part of a reorganisation of the city council’s senior team.
The authority is also in the midst of recruiting for other key posts, including a permanent chief executive, and new corporate directors for neighbourhoods and housing, and finance and resources.
Welcome, Sophie. You’ll arrive with the development community’s very best wishes. For an up-to-date view on current issues, let me refer you to the reader comments below Place’s stories last week about Nextdom’s emasculated planning application and Nuala Gallagher’s appointment.
By Sceptical
Well done Sophie on your appointment and hoping you and Nuala can give this city the new drive and leadership it needs to become a much more business friendly city than has been the case for decades. Sadly your list of projects did not include the Pall Mall office scheme but maybe that was an oversight. Ironic that Joanne Anderson is wishing you well, but for me she is one of the people who has made your task more difficult with this city`s short-sighted Local Plan, and the disastrous tall-building/height policy, and you should take note planning submissions are not coming forward for any high buildings as this council is deterring investors from making any profits as this does not fit well with the politics of many councillors. Hopefully the introduction of a new council leader, Liam Robinson, a Manchester lad, will bring a more pragmatic and business-friendly approach to the council`s attitudes in future.
By Anonymous
Good luck and I trust she is not hampered by the shackles of the planning office, own goals is too kind a phrase.
By Liverpolitis
Good luck your going to need it with LCC planning
By Anonymous
Congratulations Sophie! A great hire for the council.
By Chris Reay
Welcome and good luck Sophie our city desperately needs some fresh ideas and a much more business friendly outlook. Number one task just take 30 minutes and review all of the genuinely well meaning comments within property development articles for the city . One clear common thread,the head of planning , and ridiculous tall building policy needs urgently reformed.
Very best of luck
By Paul M - Woolton
@Sceptical well said. Sophie could learn a lot very quickly by just reading the comments on here, on the Echo, on skyscraper city etc etc. The PEOPLE want tall! LCC is out of touch
By Anonymous
congrats on the new position Sophie! Hopefully you can shake some ambitious into the sorry sad lot at LCC planning department and prevent this current “managed decline” of our once great city
By Michael
Sophie , there are still some opportunities for some high-rise in Liverpool on sites that already have planning permission but are for sale. One stand-out is the Norton Point site in the Baltic, meanwhile the Ovatus site has planning permission, so if you can get some developers in to get these moving that would be positive news.
Of course Infinity had already started but stalled,and now there are hopes that it might now be resurrected.
By Anonymous
Tall is a must
By Anonymous
While it is admirable that LCC under the commissioners is fully committed to a comprehensive “team rebuild”, I am sceptical whether this a good appointment. No delivery experience, no local authority experience and hasn’t always been a straight-shooter at LCR. I hope I am wrong but the city needs to continue to up its game
By Hmm
I’m sure all she needs is brush up on the latest buzz phrases like triple lock, social value, sustainable inclusion etc and she’s good to go.
By Derp
Will things change? when will this change ? it’s been going on for decades in Liverpool
By Anonymous