Russell Homes adds to land development team

Trafford-based Russell Homes has hired Gary Lynch as planning manager to expand the firm's strategic land development business.

Lynch has more than 10 years' experience in town planning, masterplanning and regeneration across residential, commercial and public schemes. He joins the firm from IBI Taylor Young, where he advised on complex applications, masterplans and strategic planning frameworks, and latterly led commissions for Peel, Bellway Homes and St Modwen.

Russell Homes aims to build on recent successes including the delivery of a mixed-use scheme in Crewe which saw 143 affordable homes brought forward with Countryside Properties alongside a Greene King pub and McDonald's restaurant. The land team is actively seeking new sites, and will work with landowners to gain planning consents in order to develop new homes and unlock commercial opportunities through mixed-use schemes.

Lynch said: "I'm excited to have joined Russell Homes at a time when the firm's ambitious vision and growth strategy is coming to fruition, with a number of projects being progressed through site acquisition and planning applications. They have a strong team with a very clear direction, with an emphasis on quality and a track record for delivery, and I'm looking forward to being a part of that."

Russell Homes' pipeline currently includes proposals for 55 homes overlooking the Greenbooth Reservoir in Rochdale and plans for more than 110 properties at Davenham in Cheshire.