Argent Group co-founder Peter Freeman has been awarded a CBE and British architect Sadie Morgan has received an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.
Freeman was made a CBE for his services to housing and to communities in London. He and his brother, Michael, founded the Argent Group of companies in 1981.
Argent developed Birmingham’s 17-acre Brindleyplace regeneration scheme and is now completing the 8m sq ft, mixed-use 67-acre King’s Cross and St Pancras scheme in London, N1.
Freeman was chairman of the Investment Property Forum from 2007-08. He was a non-executive director of Landsec from 2002-04, a member of the Bank of England Property Forum and a member of the British Property Federation Policy Committee from 1995-2002.
Morgan was credited for her services to the advocacy of design in the built environment. Her award comes after she launched an independent body this year to improve the effect that the built environment has on people’s lives.
The government design chair launched the Quality of Life Foundation in October to drive wellbeing and sustainable development.
Previously, Morgan founded dRMM, the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architecture practice, with Alex de Rijke and Philip Marsh in 1995.
Morgan is the chair of the Independent Design Panel for High Speed Two (HS2) UK, and a board member of both the National Infrastructure Commission UK and the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission.
She is also one of the mayor’s design advocates for the Greater London Authority.
Other property professionals recognised in the list include Pocket Living co-founder Paul Harbard, who was awarded an MBE for his services to innovative housing delivery in London and charity.
He was co-founder and finance director of Pocket Living from 2002-19. He was also finance director of the Peabody Trust from 1990-2002 and group finance director at Anglia Secure Homes (now Care UK) from 1985-90.
Harbard said: “I have always been passionate about ensuring Londoners are able to put down long-term roots in the city. It’s wonderful that Pocket has been recognised for its contribution to provide affordable housing for first time buyers in the capital.”
Canadian-born British architect Jamie Fobert received a CBE for services to architecture. He designed the cliffside extension to the Tate St Ives.
Property professionals recognised in New Year Honours – list in full
- James Fobert – For services to architecture (Greater London, EC1Y) – CBE
- Peter Freeman – For services to housing and communities (Greater London, W14) – CBE
- Carol Mary Matthews – Chief executive, the Riverside Group – For services to social housing (Greater Manchester) – CBE
- Thomas Riordan – Chief executive, Leeds City Council – For services to local government (North Yorkshire) – CBE
- Ali Akbor –Chief executive, Unity Housing Association – For services to the community in Leeds (Greater Manchester) – OBE
- Andrew Brown – Secretary and lately chief surveyor, church commissioners for England. For services to the church – OBE
- Professor Patrick Gray – Chair, Connswater Homes. For services to housing in Northern Ireland (City of Londonderry) – OBE
- Paul Harbard – For services to innovative housing delivery in London and to charity (Greater London, SW6) – MBE
- Professor Phillip Jones – For services to architecture and decarbonisation – South Glamorgan – OBE
- Professor Sadie Morgan – Founding director, dRMM Architects. For services to the advocacy and design in the built environment – OBE
- Paul Barnard – Town planner, Plymouth City Council. For services to planning in Plymouth – MBE
- Professor Eyal Weizman – For services to architecture (Greater London, E8) – MBE
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