TfGM head of estates returns to council

Oliver Jones-Orrells has joined Becca Heron’s development team at Manchester City Council, where he spent many years as a principal development surveyor before joining Transport for Greater Manchester.

Jones-Orrells will take up the post of assistant director of development and investment. He replaces David Lord, who moved to Liverpool City Council in April to become director of property. Lord had been at Manchester for 15 years, latterly as head of development. The post in Manchester has been renamed.

As head of estates at TfGM Jones-Orrells worked alongside the council on U+I Landsec’s Mayfield and General Projects’ Electric Park in New Islington.

His move marks a return to the council where he was a principal development surveyor from 2005 to 2018 before six years at TfGM.

His early career involved working on the regeneration of East Manchester, overseeing development and land assembly in Ancoats and Islington, Holt Town and the Etihad Campus, including spells on secondment to the New East Manchester Urban Regeneration Company.

He said: “Manchester has been a hugely rewarding place to live and work and the development and growth of the city over the last 20 years has been an immense source of pride for me.

“But there is still much more we can do, and I relish the opportunity to contribute towards the city’s continued ambition for sustainable and inclusive economic growth – and the creation of great neighbourhoods that strengthen communities, attract investment and create jobs that will make sure that Manchester continues to thrive.”

At TfGM, he helped pave the way for Andy Burnham’s bus franchising revolution through the acquisition of bus depots, and oversaw land assembly for the Trafford Metrolink extension including a joint venture with Peel at Trafford Wharfside.

Jones-Orrells is due to join Manchester later this month. He will be part of the council’s senior team responsible for growth and development:

• Becca Heron, strategic director of growth and development
• Pat Bartolli, director of city centre growth and infrastructure
• David Lynch, director of development
• Angela Harrington, director of inclusive economy
• Julie Roscoe, director of planning, licensing and build control
• Ian Slater, assistant director of major regeneration

Joanne Roney, chief executive of Manchester City Council, said: “We welcome Oliver to our strategic development team where he will play an instrumental role in attracting further investment to the city, supporting sustainable economic growth and deliver exemplar investment for our communities. We look forward to working closely with him as he takes up this challenging role.”

TfGM has been contacted for comment.