Living Space Housing Appoints A Land And Partnerships Director To Drive Rapid Growth

Solihull-based Living Space Housing has made a Director-level appointment to drive land acquisitions and partnership development opportunities. Chris Loizou has joined the team as Land and Partnerships Director, with a focus on securing residential sites across middle England.

The affordable housing specialist launched to the market in 2019 and is currently constructing seven residential developments, with a number of additional sites in the planning system. The combined construction value of its development portfolio is in excess of £72million and the rapidly growing business is on track to deliver 580 houses, apartments and bungalows by the end of March 2022.

Chris Loizou joins Living Space from Owl Homes Ltd, where he held the position of Land and Partnerships Director from August 2019 and quickly established rapid growth for the Tamworth-based housebuilder. He secured 15 residential developments for its Homes, Partnership Homes and Strategic housing divisions, totalling 926 housing plots. Prior to that Chris was Head of Land and Development for Partner Construction Ltd where he secured residential sites for mixed tenure affordable housing. Mr Loizou has also previously worked for Galliford Try Partnerships, Family Housing Association, Concept Development Solutions, and Barratt Homes - where he commenced his career in 2004. He obtained a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from Birmingham City University and subsequently obtained his professional qualifications to become a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Chris Loizou has strong relationships with land agents, surveyors, architects, Registered Providers, residential land specialists and Homes England. In addition to land appraisals and acquisitions, he is experienced in residential planning, partnership agreements and legal land and construction contracts.   

Steve Davies, Managing Director of Living Space Housing said: “We are delighted that a land specialist with the gravitas that Chris has in the marketplace is joining the team. There are some very exciting opportunities for partnership developments where we can add significant value.

“Where we differ from others working in the affordable housing market is our ability to design, build and sell homes for private sale. At our largest current scheme – Malvern Oaks in Herefordshire – we have successfully combined 65 per cent affordable housing, with the remaining 35 per cent of the scheme selling very well on the open market. To make other schemes viable, the requirement for an element of private development may be a much smaller percentage, or indeed – as with a number of our other schemes – private development may not be needed. We can be entirely flexible and maximise the value and potential out of all suitable sites.”

Living Space is currently on site delivering affordable homes in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, and has three live schemes in Telford in Shropshire. It is working in partnership with Stonewater, The Wrekin Housing Group, GreenSquareAccord, Paradigm and Hightown Housing Association.

Chris Loizou, Land and Partnerships Director for Living Space Housing said: “With so much political focus on predominantly developing on inner city brownfield land, there is a chronic shortage of quality affordable housing being delivered in the UK, especially family homes. The team here has already established a proven track record for unlocking stalled development sites and the opportunities to deliver much-needed affordable homes on a greater scale are very exciting.

“Living Space’s partnership ethos is very refreshing, which is what attracted me to join. I am looking forward to meeting all the partners we are actively working with and introducing new contacts. In terms of land requirements, we are actively seeking both immediate and longer-term prospects, so will consider sites with or without full planning consent. My aim is to grow the business by enhancing this partnership approach, ensuring Living Space Housing is the developer of choice for our development partners.”