Two new hires have joined Wavensmere Homes’ commercial team to support the procurement function of the business, both pre and post contract. Richard Routley joins as a commercial manager, with Ollie Ingram appointed as an assistant quantity surveyor.
Established in 2016, the Birmingham-headquartered regeneration specialist is currently constructing projects with a collective GDV of over £400m. In addition, three major Midlands schemes are at the planning or pre-construction stage, with further brownfield development sites in the process of being acquired.
Richard Routley has joined Wavensmere Homes from having his own consultancy; Routley Commercial Management Ltd, overseeing large, high-value development projects on behalf of clients, including Caddick Construction, Speller Metcalfe and Shaylor Group. Prior to that, he was employed as a senior quantity surveyor for St. Modwen Homes.
Key projects where Richard had responsibility for reporting directly at board level include Caddick Construction’s £147m first phase of Stoneyard in Digbeth, Birmingham, which is a high-rise build-to-rent scheme with 605 apartments and commercial/amenity space. As a consultant, Richard also carried out the role of commercial manager for Speller Metcalfe’s £15m Tarka Leisure Centre in Barnstaple and £12m Walsall Medical Centre.
Ollie Ingram joins Wavensmere from Miller Homes, where he had worked as a trainee quantity surveyor since 2024. Prior to that, Ollie commenced his professional career at engineering and development consultancy Mott Macdonald.
Matt Brighton, commercial director of Wavensmere Homes, said:
“With such a variety of large regeneration projects currently under construction, we are thrilled to have made this timely investment in the expansion of our commercial team. Richard has a very strong track record and excellent industry experience, so he has much to bring to this pivotal role, while Ollie has three years of invaluable training and knowledge under his belt and will be a tremendous asset to the business.
“Richard, Ollie and the wider team are working to exacting needs and specifications to deliver energy-efficient homes to be sold on the open market – including co-living properties – or for affordable housing. We have 3,500 homes either under construction or in our immediate pipeline and continue to be excited about Wavensmere’s growth plans.”
Richard Routley, commercial manager for Wavensmere Homes, said:
“This role presents a great opportunity to work in-house for a first class regeneration specialist. I have 30 years’ experience in the housebuilding and construction industry and am delighted to be joining such a well-respected team. Wavensmere has an impressive reputation for transforming challenging, high profile brownfield sites into exemplary mixed-use communities and I am excited to be part of the commercial function.”
Wavensmere Homes is redeveloping a 17.5-acre former British Steel site and Crane Foundry, located next to Wolverhampton’s transport interchange, into the £150m Canalside South scheme. Other notable projects currently under construction include Friar Gate Goods Yard in Derby city centre, which is bringing about the redevelopment of two landmark Grade II listed buildings into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial space, alongside 276 new build homes. Located in north Derbyshire, Milford Mills is delivering 69 houses and apartments within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Also well underway is Wavensmere’s redevelopment of the North Place surface car park, located within Cheltenham’s Central Conservation Area. The £50m Arkle Court scheme will comprise 147 houses and apartments, designed to sensitively enhance the street scene, including Grade II* listed St Margaret’s Terrace.