Putting people at the heart of development

What’s most important when it comes to creating new communities to live, work and do business? It’s people.

For Areli Developments, putting people first is vital to making any vibrant regeneration vision a reality. The Areli Group was founded in 2018 by Rob Tincknell - best known for his 10-year leadership on the internationally regarded Battersea Power Station project.

The multi-functional real estate organisation has a number of strands to its operations and Areli Developments is now working on a host of transformative schemes across the UK and beyond. It specialises in vision-first, sustainable, urban regeneration and investment solutions, in collaboration with capital partners and clients. It has also conducted master planning work for East Midlands Development Company, has been appointed to a major project in Kuala Lumpur and has a senior living business which is in its infancy. Based in London, its team of around 10 staff have rich experience.

Will Robinson, Chief Development Officer at Areli Developments, said: “We have significant experience in the team and specialise in vision- led, mixed use residential developments. Collectively we’ve secured planning consent for around 50 million square feet of major regeneration projects and delivered over 20 million square feet.

“It’s all about putting people first – putting people at the heart of proposals, then creating a strong vision that wraps around that to create great places, combining social and environmental sustainability.

“Our proposals are focussed on creating a very strong sense of place, somewhere where people want to be.

“As developers we are the conductor of the orchestra – with a design team including architects, engineers all working together to deliver the vision in a commercially viable format.”

Areli has a long standing partnership with Tikehau Capital which has led to projects in Maidenhead, Orpington and Brentford.

Tikehau Capital and Areli Developments acquired what is known locally as the Sega Building, in Brentford in March 2021 and have been working with the Council, local stakeholders and residents to shape proposals to complement the exciting projects happening in and around the Great West Corridor in Brentford in West London. Planning has now been submitted for the proposals on the site next to Brentford Football Club.

The project, Brentford Works, will deliver 916 apartments, shops, cafés and 90,000 square feet of commercial space, as well as improved transport connections and a new public realm - all of which will boost local spending by £10.7 million and create 512 jobs post-completion, due in 2028/29.

A key part of Areli’s work is public engagement and consultation. It’s here the Chamber has proved to be invaluable, with the company joining West London Chambers of Commerce in 2023 as a Patron.

Will explained: “We are really keen that whatever we promote, it’s embedded in the local community – both the community where people live but also the community where they work.

“Working closely with those communities – both business and residents – you come up with a product that people get behind and support which has great value.

“We certainly don’t go into any location and think we know more than the people there. That’s why it’s so important to join the Chamber in areas where we are working.”

He added: “At the early stage of formulating proposals we ensure they reflect what’s needed in the borough – but also benefit the local supply chain and community.

“Being a Patron has helped massively in terms of providing us with local business contacts, enabling us to embed ourselves in the area.

“They’ve supported us in tailoring the proposals to meet the needs of the local community.”

Areli exhibited at a Chamber conference last year and has also made great connections through a host of networking events.

Will added: “With larger scale regeneration there is inevitably a nervousness about change. One thing the Chamber does is they are really helpful with messaging and providing reassurance to the local community.

“They’re not the developer, it’s coming from an independent body that everyone knows has the interests of the area they’re representing at heart, and that impartiality is really important and instils confidence in people.”

As an urban regeneration expert, having previously been a Director at Wilson Bowden, part of Barratt Developments, Will knows all too well how understanding how a community ticks makes all the difference when pioneering new developments. And creating passion and excitement about not just the project, but with the people you connect with, is something he’s found in abundance at the Chamber.

“The team is so enthusiastic,” he added. “That goes right through the Chamber from the Chairman to the members.

“To new Chamber members, I would say embrace it and embed yourself in it.

“Don’t just sit back, there’s a real opportunity –so take it.”