Category: News

Ben Geering, Head of Planning at Quinn Estates, was recently interviewed by Jez Davison, Editor of Thinking Business for the magazine’s Big Interview feature.

In the interview, Ben shared Quinn Estates’ holistic approach to development by showcasing some of the company’s most exciting projects. He detailed the game- changing infrastructure that Highsted Park would provide for the people of Swale and outlined how as well as the delivery of a mixed-use development at Detling, Binbury Park would provide nationally significant highways safety betterment.

Having joined the Quinn Estates team in 2018, Ben shared how studying Geography at university and completing a Masters in Planning set him along his career path, along with an ambition to solve real world problems. His work at Quinn Estates ties directly into this, with sustainability high on the agenda and championing the flexibility to develop with the future needs of local people in mind.

Thinking Business is the official magazine for the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, covering business news, features and interviews from across the county. The December 2020 – January 2021 issue is out now.

Read the latest issue of Thinking Business here and you’ll find the interview with Ben on p.18-19.

On Friday, 27 November, Quinn Homes was awarded bronze in the Best Small Housebuilder category at the WhatHouse? Awards 2020.

Held as a virtual ceremony and hosted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, the event celebrated the best the British housebuilding industry has to offer.

Having been spun out of one of Kent’s most proactive and innovative mixed-use developers, Quinn Homes is an emerging housebuilder brand, so getting this recognition in such a strong category is a huge achievement.

The judges report commended Quinn Homes, stating: “Quinn Homes is the new housebuilding child of mixed-use developer Quinn Estates. Its homes are bold of ambition, design and concept; refreshing in how they look and how they are conceived and an eclectic mix of properties to suit a variety of purchasers across Kent.

“Quinn Homes, based in Canterbury, loves a contemporary twist and introducing pioneering new technology. The housebuilder likes nothing more than adding a dash of modernity to a period drama, without losing the history or authenticity, as comfortable with delicate restoration as brand new brushstrokes. “Legacy is important too, reviving towns and creating employment, with CEO and chairman Mark Quinn leading from the front with drive and passion and not afraid of risk.

“The company, with a strong team ethic throughout, is involved in a raft of charity initiatives and, like many builders, has been hugely supportive of the communities it develops in during the pandemic.”

On Wednesday, 25 November, Built Environment Networking hosted their latest webinar – Future Development Plans – Kent – which explored future development, regeneration and investment within the strategic county.

Quinn Estates’ CEO and Chairman, Mark Quinn joined the speaker panel to provide an update on the most exciting developments the company is working on, including Highsted Park, Binbury Park, Merton Park and Stonehouse Park. He also shared more on Quinn Estates’ community infrastructure projects including the state-of-the-art Herne Bay Sports Hub and the upcoming £9 million facility for Pilgrims Hospices.

Throughout his keynote, Mark shared his wider industry thoughts and insights, including the importance of delivering what you say you will, that trust and collaboration is key to regeneration and building in a recession will help drive the economy forward.

Mark was joined by Julia Gregory, Director of Projects at Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, who took delegates through what they’ve achieved so far at Ebbsfleet Garden City and also championed the importance of infrastructure delivery.

Host Phil Laycock led a Q&A session where the audience could pose their questions to Mark and Julia, which covered a variety of topics. In his answers Mark championed having the lowest impact on the environment and promoting biodiversity, green space being key to future-proofing placemaking and the need for office space to inspire and train young people.

Quinn Estates will be speaking at upcoming webinars and events, so stay up-to-date with Built Environment Networking’s exciting programme here.

Against tough industry competition, CEO and Chairman of Quinn Estates, Mark Quinn was awarded the Irvine Sellar Award at last night’s Property Awards 2020.

Hosted virtually by impressionist Jon Culshaw, the Property Week event celebrated the best the UK commercial property industry has to offer. In addition to the award win, Quinn Estates were also shortlisted across the Developer of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year and Social Impact Award categories.

In honour of the late, great property developer, the Irvine Sellar Award celebrates an individual or company that has made an impact with a truly ground-breaking scheme. The judges were looking for innovation, transformation, entrepreneurial spirit, risk taking and persistence.

Paul Tremble, UK Chief Strategy Officer at WSP, praised Quinn Estates’ strong track record and Mark’s role in driving the team to deliver for the whole community when he presented the award. It was Mark and the team’s commitment to the delivery of the multi-million pound facilities at Herne Bay Sports Hub that really stood out in the award entry.

In his acceptance speech Mark Quinn, thanked the local authorities Quinn Estates have worked with over the years, as well as his family, friends and personal mentors within the industry.

He said: “I would like to thank the judging panel and Property Week for choosing myself and Quinn Estates to win this award. I believe we won this award not because of how commercially successful this scheme has been, but because of what we have given back and what we have done for the communities within which we build.

He also recognises the role Irvine Sellar played in the property industry and explains why Quinn Estates strives to do the same: “Irvine risked everything to create something of beauty for the people of London and beyond. Good development is about trying to do more for the area in which you develop than you take from it. This is what we have strived to do in our developments throughout Kent and it is what Mr Sellar definitely achieved in his developments in Britain.”

Geoff Miles, Chair of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, commended the award win: “I’m not surprised to see Mark Quinn receive The Irvine Sellar Award; his approach to property development has always been fresh and innovative. The words ‘game-changing’ can often be overused in the property sector but it’s a sentiment that can be closely aligned to Mark.

“At the heart of this is his persistence in delivering community assets that exceed the requirements; he thinks people first. This award is for people who are formidable; for people who make the impossible, possible. It could not have been awarded to a more apt person than Mark Quinn.”

Isobel Warnock, Chairman of Herne Bay Lawn Tennis Club, one of the sports clubs using the facilities in Herne Bay, commented: “Congratulations to Mark and to Quinn Estates. They certainly deserve recognition for developing and providing us with such state-of-the-art facilities at Herne Bay Sports Hub.

“These fabulous, modern facilities give our club a bright and exciting future to expand our junior and younger adult sections and continue to invest in our established membership. A huge thank you to Mark Quinn for his vision and dedication to see the project completed.”

Quinn Estates have a number of community-centred developments being developed across Kent and the South East, many of whom include the provision of sports facilities and green space for local people and sports clubs to use. One of these projects is Stonehouse Park, which proposes new pitches for Sevenoaks Rugby Club and Sevenoaks Hockey Club.

Trevor Nicholson, Chairman of Sevenoaks Rugby Club, added: "We at Sevenoaks Rugby are delighted that Quinn Estates and Mark personally have been recognised with this award.

“Although our project is not as far advanced as Herne Bay, over the years that we have known Quinn Estates, we have been impressed with their straightforward approach and genuine desire to fund community sports facilities. Their enabling development model solves the two burning issues of Kent’s desperate housing shortage and poor outdoor recreational facilities at the same time.”

On Thursday, 1 October, CEO and Chairman of Quinn Estates, Mark Quinn, took to the virtual stage at Kent Construction Live to deliver a presentation on ‘Private Funding for Public Infrastructure.’

Using proposed projects such as Highsted Park and Binbury Park as a case study, Mark shared details of how the delivery of game changing infrastructure is central to Quinn Estates’ developments. “We truly believe the days of developers building with no infrastructure are over,” he told delegates.

Mark also outlined that delivering major community gains is also important to the entire Quinn Estates team. He credited Herne Bay Sports Hub, a £5.5m state-of-the-art sports facility and the upcoming new Pilgrims Hospice facility in Canterbury, as among the projects he’s most proud of to date.

When asked what motivates him and gets him out of bed in the morning, Mark commented: “I’m really proud to work with such a fantastic team and I’m just a tiny cog in this business. I also love building things that I’m proud of, so that’s another real driver for me.”

Hosted by the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Kent Construction Live is one of the first online construction conference in the county. Industry leaders in construction delivered keynotes on factors affecting the sector and attendees were able to pose their questions directly to the experts. Learn more about the event here.

On Tuesday, 29 September 2020, the project team for Highsted Park hosted a virtual public information and consultation event to discuss proposals and receive feedback from local residents and businesses.

Across afternoon and evening sessions, attendees were given an overview of the scheme by the project team led by Ben Geering, Development Director at Quinn Estates. They were then able to pose their questions to a live panel of consultants. The aim of the event was to give the public the opportunity to share their thoughts, which will be considered ahead of the submission of final proposals.

The engagements were recorded and will be published on the Highsted Park website, so those who are unable to attend will be able to watch at a later date. The questions posed will also be collated and put together into an FAQ summary following the event.

Highsted Park is a visionary proposal for a mixed-use development that incorporates game-changing infrastructure and air quality improvements for the residents and businesses of Sittingbourne, Swale and the South East. The project seeks to positively transform Swale for current and future generations.

The project includes:

• 9,250 homes including 1,850 affordable.
• A new privately funded junction onto the M2 (J5a), the creation of the Southern Relief Road and completion of the Northern Relief Road.
• Four new primary schools and one new secondary school.
• 520 acres of new publicly accessible parks and outdoor space.
• Pioneering green technology to create a carbon neutral development.
• Space which encourages alternative modes of transport.
• A state-of-the-art sports hub anchored by Sittingbourne FC.
• New major primary care facilities.

Ben Geering, Development Director at Quinn Estates, commented: “We are delighted that we were able to host a virtual public consultation for Highsted Park today. Getting feedback from the public and stakeholders is extremely important as it shapes our final proposals. Given the current restrictions, it was great to still be able to do this even though it took a different format to our usual public consultations.

“The entire project team is passionate about what Highsted Park can deliver for Swale in terms of infrastructure, housing delivery, and job creation, so we want to progress the development as soon as possible. It’s also the only scheme coming forward in the borough that provides significant air quality benefits. Today’s event is definitely a step in a positive direction and we look forward to hosting further consultations on the project in the future.”

To find out more about the project and any upcoming virtual events, click here.

Quinn Estates has pledged its continued support to Sittingbourne Football Club by agreeing to be their shirts sponsor for the 2020/2021 season.

This sponsorship represents an ongoing relationship between the club and Quinn Estates. Without the support of local sponsors, volunteers, fundraising and grants, the running of Sittingbourne Football Club wouldn’t be possible. Quinn Estates hopes the sponsorship will help the club to grow.

Sittingbourne FC has been a focal point of the local community for over 130 years, which ties into Quinn Estates’ passion for promoting sport and leisure in the areas in which they develop.

The entire Quinn Estates team is committed to delivering a positive legacy with their developments through the creation of jobs, unlocking regeneration and bringing tangible benefits to local residents. They also support smaller groups and sports clubs wherever they can through sponsorship and charitable donations.

Established in 1886, Sittingbourne Football Club is part of the Isthmian League South East Division. Since 2013, the club has played at Woodstock Park, which has a capacity of 3000.

When staff at Thanington Neighbourhood Resource Centre were faced with redundancy notices following the charity’s loss of income due the Covid-19 pandemic, Quinn Estates stepped up to help.

The £75,000 donation will keep the much-needed centre going for the next six months, giving the team time to rebuild its revenue.

Paula Spencer, Chief Executive, said: “We are very grateful to Quinn Estates because we know they have done all they can to help us.”

Thanington Neighbourhood Resource Centre is a small resident-led charity in Canterbury and is a cornerstone of the local community. It has received praise for its work in reducing anti-social behaviour, helping young people and promoting community cohesion.

Quinn Estates, as a Canterbury business, recognised what a vital organisation Thanington Neighbourhood Resource Centre was to local people and knew they wanted to donate. Community is part of the company culture and the team endeavour to support local groups wherever possible.

Learn more about Quinn Estates’ recent community work here.

Planning approval has been granted for Clifton Slipways, a contemporary mixed-use project on West Street in Gravesend, which promises to ensure a long-awaited riverside regeneration becomes a reality.

Last night (Wednesday, 22 July) Gravesham Borough Council approved the application for the landmark project, which seeks to unlock a strategic brownfield site and is intended to act as a catalyst for further investment in the town centre.

Clifton Slipways is led by Quinn Estates, one of the South East’s leading mixed-use developers, and has been designed by award-winning architects, Hollaway. The decision by the planning committee represents the culmination of over 18 months of work to create a proposal which delivers significant regeneration benefits and reflects the feedback received during consultation.

A £2.9 million restoration of the West Street Pier is at the centre of the scheme. The derelict Victorian pier has been in disrepair for half a century.  A start-up business hub at Pier Works, as well as 2,600 sq. m of new public realm and the creation of over 100 long-term jobs are just part of Quinn Estates’ plans for breathing new life into the historic pier and reconnecting Gravesend and its residents with the Thames.

227 new one and two bedroom riverside apartments, will be just a 10-minute walk from Gravesend train station, with its 24 minute route to London St Pancras. Of these new homes, 10% will provide affordable Discount Market Rent helping to meet local housing need and will prioritise essential workers.

The wider development will include substantial investment in public realm improvements, including traffic calming and wider cycle and footpaths along West Street and Stuart Road. The proposals also provide new and improved flood defences to protect Gravesend against the impact of climate change.

Now that the project has been granted planning permission, there will be a focus on rapid delivery and construction is planned to commence onsite in Q1 2021. Quinn Estates has worked closely with its local supply chain to ensure the project will deliver local jobs throughout the construction phase.

Ben Geering, Development Director at Quinn Estates, said: “We are delighted by Gravesham Borough Council’s decision to approve Clifton Slipways.

“This high-quality scheme can now be at the heart of Gravesend’s regeneration, providing significant investment of over £4.3 million in S106 agreements and providing homes and jobs for the town, supporting local businesses and services. By making the best use of a derelict site to create a landmark development and more than half an acre of riverside public space, the project will reconnect the town and its people with the Thames.

“Over the past 18 months, Quinn Estates has worked proactively to respond to matters raised by consultees and stakeholders and ensure our proposals reflected them, so this is a positive decision.

“Last night’s vote means we can progress without delay to deliver much-needed riverside regeneration at Clifton Slipways. Construction is planned to start onsite in Q1 2021.”

The Clifton Slipway site has had an extensive planning history and extant consent, which makes it a typical Quinn Estates project – taking a difficult scheme that many consider unviable and re-working it to deliver hugely significant economic, environmental and social gains. The construction phase of the development will also secure hundreds of direct and indirect jobs for local people.

For more information on Clifton Slipways, please click here.

On Tuesday, 7 July, Quinn Estates’ CEO and Chairman, Mark Quinn delivered a keynote at one of Built Environment Networking’s latest webinars. Future Development Plans – Kent, was part of an ongoing series and focussed on the development activity in and around Kent.

As one of the most proactive developers in the county, Quinn Estates are a leading voice on Kent development. Mark updated delegates on two of the company’s most exciting projects – Newtown Works and Highsted Park. He outlined the opportunities the developments present both in terms of economic and job creation gains, as well as health and wellbeing benefits.

Tony Freudmann, Director of RiverOak Strategic Partners; William Cornall, Director of Regeneration & Place at Maidstone Borough Council; and Rhiannon Mort, Capital Programmes Manager at SELEP, also delivered presentations on their work and projects within Kent.

The second part of the webinar was made up with a Q&A session led by chair Phil Laycock and his co-host Fahmida Nisa.A number of questions were directed specifically to Mark, who shared his thoughts and insights on a variety of topics including the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic on the housing market, affordable homes and sustainability.

Back in June, Mark spoke at the Transforming the Thames Estuary Corridor webinar. He will also be speaking at upcoming webinars and events, so stay up-to-date with Built Environment Networking’s exciting programme here.