Argent directors quit for new business

 

 

Argent board directors Gary Taylor and Stephen Tillman have quit the firm after 17 years to set up their own development business.


 

 

Their departure is amicable and will see the duo work alongside Argent to take forward existing schemes at Paradise Circus in Birmingham and the 1,000 acre land reclamation scheme Ffos-y-Fran in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. Argent will retain a part ownership in both schemes. 


 

 

Taylor and Tillman have secured options to fully acquire Argent’s interest in the 1.5m sq ft Paradise Circus and also on assets in Argent’s residential land business, which was set up by Tillman and colleague Robert Bolton – who also joins the new company.


 

 

Argent will focus on delivering its 8m sq ft King’s Cross scheme in central London for which it is in advanced talks with Eurohypo to fund the first phases, together with delivering the 273,000 sq ft One St Peter’s Square in Manchester.


 

 

Argent also retains ownership of the 107,000 sq ft Eleven Brindleyplace office block in Birmingham.  


 

 

Argent’s joint chief executives Roger Madelin and David Partridge said: “We believe that this represents a natural evolution for Argent, following on from the momentum that has built up at King’s Cross and the current focus of investors resulting from the economic climate. 


 

 

“With the recent sale of Brindleyplace and level of investment required by the team to deliver the multi-billion pound King’s Cross scheme, we have arrived at a point in the history of Argent where it makes sense to review how we deliver current and future schemes.”


 

 

They added: “Steve and Gary are best placed to take forward our longer term schemes while Argent will concentrate on completing Eleven Brindleyplace and on London, the South East, Manchester and other regional centres.”


 

 

Tillman said: “Gary and I are fully committed to building on the momentum already underway at Paradise Circus and Ffos-y-fran. We have both led these projects from the outset and feel a personal responsibility to ensure that they are successfully delivered.”


 

 

Tillman’s and Taylor’s new venture will be seeded with three major residential land opportunities and further opportunities in the pipeline.


 

 

The pair will continue to be based in Argent’s London and Birmingham offices for the immediate future and are actively seeking funding partners for future projects. 

Lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com

 

To access all EGi news stories and commercial property data sign up for a free trial today, or visit the subscription options page to find out more.