Bywater hires development MD to support growth ambitions

Anthony Judge has joined the developer and asset manager from GMI Construction, the firm appointed to deliver the developer’s 35 Fountain Street office scheme in Manchester.

Judge joins Bywater after five years at GMI with the firm pressing ahead on the 84,000 sq ft Fountain Street project – which will feature a timber upwards extension – and on the hunt for more projects across both commercial and residential.

Judge has also had stints at Wates and BAM during a 25 year career.

In his new role as managing director of development, Judge will lead and grow Bywater’s development team, “driving forward the company’s carbon-conscious development principles and its commitment to addressing the climate emergency with urgency and intensity” the business said in a statement.

It is this ethos that attracted Judge to the role.

“Bywater is doing something genuinely different in the built environment, putting timber and low-carbon technology at the heart of every project and refusing to compromise on design quality or sustainability credentials,” he said.

“Joining at this stage of the business’s growth is a real privilege. I’m looking forward to working with the team to deliver on an ambitious and exciting pipeline and to helping raise the bar for what responsible development looks like in practice.”

Patrick O’Gorman, chief executive of Bywater, said: “Anthony’s appointment is a significant moment for us. As we scale our residential and commercial pipeline and deepen our commitment to carbon-conscious development, having someone of Anthony’s calibre and experience leading our development function gives us enormous confidence.

“His values are completely aligned with ours and I have no doubt he will make an immediate and lasting impact on the business.”