The first speaker in our new autumn series is Rupert Scott who will be talking about combining practice with development and how his expertise as an architect allows him to see the potential of challenging sites.

His first two development projects were both family homes. The first was a gin distillery conversion in Whitechapel, and the second was a new build house in Forest Hill East College. These provided the capital and experience to roll into future ventures.

Rupert will emphasise the importance of being in the "right mindset" and emotionally ready to find and secure sites, avoiding buying something out of frustration.

He will explain his systematic process for assessing potential sites and only purchasing those he believes have a residual value even without planning permission. This includes the challenge of navigating complex planning policies and dealing with unforeseen circumstances like verbal tenancy agreements.

Like most architects, he admits to being a perfectionist. He'll discuss the balancing act between design aspirations and market realities, explaining how he ensures projects fit the market while maintaining quality.

For architects nervous about taking the first steps, Rupert’s talk will offer some valuable insights into the power of a calculated, patient, and systematic approach to development.