Aviation Hangar & Flight Training Facilities
Multi-stakeholder & time-sensitive development | Budget £1m | Herts, UK
Aviation property development near London
My experience in delivering functional developments in a time and cost-pressured environment led me to a new client. Due to popular demand, they were in need of a new maintenance and storage facility to house various aircraft and their growing flight training school.
Protecting ‘business as usual’ for successful aviation client
Located on the outskirts of London in the Hertfordshire Green Belt, my client had identified a site and work began to receive permissions and plan the project.
The pressure was on to develop their new facilities to grow the professional credibility of their business, while remaining fully functional nearby. Time was tight and deadlines were finite. We needed to deliver this project in record time.
Commercial property development permissions quickly sought
In support of growing the economic success of businesses in Hertsmere, and upgrading the aviation facilities at Elstree Aerodrome, the last licensed airfield in Hertfordshire and the closest to London, relevant permissions were granted from the local authority and other relevant bodies methodically and efficiently.
The development comprised of a steel structure and KS1000RW cladding panels, with preparations being made for solar panels to be installed on the roof.
Clear and transparent communication in the project team
Giving my bespoke project team clear instructions on the client’s specialist requirements led to a transparent and collaborative working environment and relationship, which enabled fast and efficient development.
For example, an important part of the project involved specialist water treatment equipment which meant it was critical to work tightly together to avoid a negative impact on the environment.
We maintained the budget and programme by keeping lines of communication open between the client, designer, contractor and other stakeholders, to ensure the needs of the end user were realised throughout.
Humphrey Gibbs, Owner and Estate Director, comments:
“The financing, development and letting of our newest hangar at London Elstree Aerodrome was seamless. The building was delivered on time, on budget, with all tenant requirements fully satisfied. We have been really impressed by David’s professionalism and pragmatism, and we look forward to completing several ongoing and future projects together and further developing our partnership.”
Brand and revenue growth for property client
My client is attracting higher-value tenants having grown the perceived and actual worth of their offering, demonstrated through a higher-value and quality team and customer experience.
Fulfilment in a property development job well done
I’m big on building strong lasting relationships that pave the way for productive, open and honest conversations throughout the project.
What good looks like in my mind, isn’t just a project delivered on time and on budget, but one with an enjoyable journey that the client and the entire team feel proud to have been part of.
In my development management experience, projects fail to meet targets when members of the team are not given free rein to fulfil their roles or processes are not implemented.
We managed to strike the right balance to protect the client’s interests on this aviation hangar project, meeting demand efficiently as a team, whilst navigating the global challenges of the pandemic.
Efficient project management: Right skills in the right place
Moving forward, this project further cemented the importance of securing the right team with the right skill set for efficient delivery.
Let’s talk about your plans for future commercial developments
I am looking to talk to new clients requiring efficient roll-out of multi-stakeholder time-sensitive projects, looking to grow their business while maintaining ‘business as usual’.
Get in touch to discuss leading your next big project with just as much care and attention as you. Schedule a call or take a few minutes to outline your next opportunity here and I’ll get back to you quickly.
David Sowerby
Director, Sowerby Property
T. +44 7787 168667