Assura adds to development team

The Warrington-based primary healthcare property developer and investor has hired a senior chartered surveyor to work alongside development directors Simon Gould and Paul Warwick, as the business accelerates its acquisition programme with a £100m share placing.

Development manager Andrew Cooper has joined the FTSE 250-listed  company following roles with Total Property Solutions and WM Morrison.

Assura owns almost 400 properties in a portfolio valued at more than £1.3bn, and has a pipeline of £153m in primary care property acquisitions and developments. There are 14 new schemes currently progressing across the country.

On Tuesday, Assura said it would place a 10% stake raise funds “to take advantage of…investment opportunities in the market whilst maintaining its loan-to-value at approximately 38% following the placing.”

Andrew Darke, property director, said: “It’s great to have Andrew joining us at such a busy time – we have some really innovative and ambitious programmes in motion but ultimately, it’s the skill and expertise of our team which deliver the fit-for-purpose buildings that GPs so desperately need.

“With the two biggest political parties both pledging to improve NHS buildings during the next parliament, this is a particularly crucial time to be expanding the range of our experience even further.”

The company said it plans to add another two surveyors to its property management team in the coming months.