Christopher Bourchier – Director at Insight Investment & former Director of The Crown Estate
“I worked with Nick while he was Head of Development and Asset Management at The Crown Estate. Nick was responsible for driving capital out-performance from the rural estate against the IPD benchmark - focused on development sites and estate restructuring.
“I worked with Nick while he was Head of Development and Asset Management at The Crown Estate. Nick was responsible for driving capital out-performance from the rural estate against the IPD benchmark - focused on development sites and estate restructuring.
Notable successes for Nick include the off market strategic acquisition of the 3600 acre Knutsford Estate for £35m; constructing the award winning Burnhill Green housing scheme in the Staffordshire Green Belt; gaining planning permission for an urban expansion of 600 homes at Taunton and the purchase of land in Essex, where planning permission was granted for 155 homes a year later.”
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The Pattle Trust
“Nick Harper has been working on behalf of our family Trust on farmland for a few years now, having successfully gained an Option Agreement for one area of land in Suffolk and a Promotion Agreement for a parcel of land in Essex. We have always found him to be professional, friendly and very clear about every detail of any agreements. He is always available and ready to answer any queries we have and to liaise speedily with everyone involved.
“Nick Harper has been working on behalf of our family Trust on farmland for a few years now, having successfully gained an Option Agreement for one area of land in Suffolk and a Promotion Agreement for a parcel of land in Essex. We have always found him to be professional, friendly and very clear about every detail of any agreements. He is always available and ready to answer any queries we have and to liaise speedily with everyone involved.
More recently he has worked tirelessly to achieve an off-market sale of a farmhouse, buildings and land for us. It has been far from straight forward or speedy for a variety of different reasons. However, throughout this Nick has been “on the case” liaising with a number of agents, solicitors and all involved to successfully get this sale through. Nick’s attention to detail, his instant communication with everyone involved at every stage and his feed back to us has been without fault.
We are delighted with the way he operates his business and would highly recommend his services.”
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“I write this testimonial in recognition of the excellent work that Nick Harper and his company, Hawkspur, recently performed for my brother and me. We are experienced in land deals including seeking planning permission for large scale residential development and achieving sales reflecting a full measure of development value.
Our most recent successful experience involved a development partner of a national firm of commercial surveyors. However, more recently my brother and I were considering the best avenue of approach for us to promote a one hundred house site on green field open farmland near to Braintree in Essex. We decided on this occasion to not approach a large national firm but instead to approach Nick Harper, whom we both knew.
Over a five year period he critically helped us to select a suitable national builder for an option agreement and then worked with them and the local authority to achieve planning permission and a land sale on suitable terms. At all times, Nick was energetic, knowledgeable and discreet and played a critical role in the whole process. I commend him for similar ventures.”
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Alice Hawkes – from the Hawkes Family
“Nick has worked with both my father and me on some of our land in Essex that has potential for residential development by investigating planning opportunities. 3 times he has achieved finding us agreements with developers - 1 with full planning success and the other 2 are pending conclusion. We have valued his extensive experience and professional manner.”
“Nick has worked with both my father and me on some of our land in Essex that has potential for residential development by investigating planning opportunities. 3 times he has achieved finding us agreements with developers - 1 with full planning success and the other 2 are pending conclusion. We have valued his extensive experience and professional manner.”
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Farming Family in North East Essex
“Nick Harper from Hawkspur acted as our agent for the promotion and sale of a parcel of our farmland. He managed to guide us through the initial selection of a development promoter, the promotion agreement, the ongoing monitoring of the planning application and process, which ultimately led to the successful marketing and a profitable sale to our preferred housing developer.
“Nick Harper from Hawkspur acted as our agent for the promotion and sale of a parcel of our farmland. He managed to guide us through the initial selection of a development promoter, the promotion agreement, the ongoing monitoring of the planning application and process, which ultimately led to the successful marketing and a profitable sale to our preferred housing developer.
Nick, is now helping us through the various stages of an additional option agreement with the same developer which has all the signs of being equally successful.”
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Kerry Addison – Partner at Thompson Smith and Puxon Solicitors
“I have collaborated with Nick over several years on various projects of differing values and complexities. Nick has always been patient, helpful and approachable. On occasions where the commercial and legal complexities have conflicted, Nick has always worked with me to find a realistic and practical solution to ensure that the legal position is protected but the commercial aims are achieved.”
“I have collaborated with Nick over several years on various projects of differing values and complexities. Nick has always been patient, helpful and approachable. On occasions where the commercial and legal complexities have conflicted, Nick has always worked with me to find a realistic and practical solution to ensure that the legal position is protected but the commercial aims are achieved.”
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David Fovargue – Principal Consultant (Town Planning), AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Limited
“I would highly recommend Nick, having worked with him for a number of years, including during his time as Head of Rural Asset Management at The Crown Estate. He has an excellent understanding of land, development and planning, having led the successful promotion and delivery of a number of residential, employment and mixed use schemes, from small scale rural developments through to strategic urban extensions.
“I would highly recommend Nick, having worked with him for a number of years, including during his time as Head of Rural Asset Management at The Crown Estate. He has an excellent understanding of land, development and planning, having led the successful promotion and delivery of a number of residential, employment and mixed use schemes, from small scale rural developments through to strategic urban extensions.
As a highly skilled communicator, one of Nick’s particular strengths is his ability to secure effective engagement with a wide-ranging audience, including politicians, council officers, local community groups, government agencies and technical consultants. In addition, Nick has a breadth of experience managing complex projects and delivery teams, always committed to high standards of quality and professionalism.”
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Malcolm Foulkes-Arnold – Corporate Architecture Ltd
“I would thoroughly recommend Nick, having worked with him whilst he was with The Crown Estate. I found him articulate and with a forensic knowledge and ability in his field. Nick always kept an excellent balance of professionalism and humour throughout. I will certainly work with Nick again when an opportunity presents itself.”
“I would thoroughly recommend Nick, having worked with him whilst he was with The Crown Estate. I found him articulate and with a forensic knowledge and ability in his field. Nick always kept an excellent balance of professionalism and humour throughout. I will certainly work with Nick again when an opportunity presents itself.”
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Chris Haworth – former Head of the Planning and Development Division, Carter Jonas
“I have worked for several years with Nick, and jointly we achieved a lot. He has great integrity, a very thorough knowledge of the strategic land market and great expertise in the promotion of land for development, particularly in the new era of Localism”
“I have worked for several years with Nick, and jointly we achieved a lot. He has great integrity, a very thorough knowledge of the strategic land market and great expertise in the promotion of land for development, particularly in the new era of Localism”
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Ben Yallop - Land Director, Croudace Homes
“Nick struck a good balance between being very thorough in all aspects of the job and ensuring the deal was done in the interest of all parties.”
“Nick struck a good balance between being very thorough in all aspects of the job and ensuring the deal was done in the interest of all parties.”
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Gary Pleasants - Director, Quatro Public Relations
“Nick has an excellent appreciation of the importance of good communications and stakeholder relations for the development and property sector. With the advent of localism such awareness is more important than ever. He is also a great chap to work with!”
“Nick has an excellent appreciation of the importance of good communications and stakeholder relations for the development and property sector. With the advent of localism such awareness is more important than ever. He is also a great chap to work with!”
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