Our next speaker Nick Glendinning runs Nest Development,  an award-winning builder and developer delivering design-led homes in East Anglia. Projects include Tinker’s Barn which won an RIBA regional award in 2019,

He says his previous careeer, as a producer in the music and advertising industries, has many similaities with property development namley constantly working to a strict budget and a timeline and overcoming an "endless bunch of problems" until the project is finished.

Nick bought his his first property - a redundant, derelict church -at an auction but is now activley finding sites that are not on the open market to avoid competing with local builders.

Working mainly in East Suffolk, Nick's talk will  focus on the advantages for architects of developing outside of London.

"Although margins are far tighter in the country, as long as you keep a close eye on costs, projects are generally less expensive and carry less financial risk making them ideal for architects starting out", he says.

And contrary to popular belief, he argues that it’s actually easier to add value through good design outside London because more local authorities are now welcoming contemporary architecture if it references the local vernacular.

He will also explain how he has leveraged local planning policies and used the planning system to redevelop redundant agricultural buildings.

As well as his own construction company, Nick has recently taken on an in-house architect and an in-house planning consultant  so the company can also offer a design build service ad and act as a land promoter.

“We’re like an octopus, trying to get our tentacles out there to see what works and what doesn't work” he says.

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