1. Professional Resume for:
Mark. J. Osborn BA (Hons), Dip TP, MRTPI
Date of Birth: 13th April 1968
Address: 18 Melvinshaw, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 8SX
Contact: 07887 658306(M)
01372 360784 (Home)
mark-osborn@sky.com
Qualifications:
BA Honours Degree in Urban Geography at Middlesex University- Upper
Second Class
Post Graduate Diploma in Town Planning, University of Westminster
Member, Royal Town Planning Institute
Career History:
2011- Present
Crest Strategic Projects
I was promoted to Development Executive and transferred to Crest Strategic
Projects in November 2011. I now help that section of the business acquire
strategic land and promote it through the planning system.
In addition to this work, I also work on the delivery side of the team which takes
the sites with outline planning permission and works through them getting
approvals for reserved matters, amending and manipulating planning
agreements, clearing planning conditions and getting technical approvals to
package the sites up for transfer to the regions or for external sale as serviced
land. This involves working closely with external teams of consultants,
negotiating with local authorities and government agencies and working with
agents to achieve the most profitable outcome for the Company. I also work
closely with technical teams both within CSP and at the Regions to enable a
smooth transfer of the sites and early delivery of units for sale.
I currently manage around 4000 units for the Group and have recently
purchased a new site for a further 850 units. One of my sites, Finberry in
Ashford has just won the RTPI South East Award for Exemplary Planning to
2. Deliver Housing.
2009-2011
Crest Nicholson Eastern Limited
After nearly a year out of work. I managed to secure a position at Crest
Nicholson as a Development Manager. This has involved me working on much
larger strategic projects and larger housing sites generally. As before, my role
is to acquire sites and project manage them through the legal and planning
processes to enable handover to the production team to build them. I worked
on the following projects in my time with the Region:
Cheeseman’s Green, Ashford- a scheme of 1180 dwellings,
Hastings Road, Maidstone- a scheme of 25 houses in the town centre
Ringers Road, Bromley- a large scheme in the town centre featuring a 10
storey building
Darland Road, Gillingham- a scheme of 50 houses.
2001- 2008
Ruskin Homes
Joined Ruskin Homes in March 2001 as a Land Manager, having previously
been employed as a planning consultant for them. My skills and duties
included:
Responsible for the identification and purchase of sites for the Company,
negotiating with landowners, and liaising with solicitors to finalise contracts for
the purchase of land.
Carrying out basic design feasibilities and financial viabilities. Appointing and
co-ordinating a variety of consultants to enable successful planning
applications to be submitted.
I was involved in negotiating down Social Housing contributions by using
arguments of viability. I also have negotiated contributions down for education,
health, open space, etc on several schemes including one in Coulsdon, Surrey
where I managed to get over £150,000 off the S106 requirements at appeal. I
am able to draft a unilateral undertaking and argue the case on such matters at
appeal.
I have also successfully negotiated on matters of sustainability and provision of
3. renewable energy and Code for Sustainable Homes. It is important in the
current climate to try and reduce these external costs in order to make a site
viable and this is something I have been doing more of in recent times.
I have contacts, especially within the social housing field who are able to help in
arguing the right level of provision and I can help in seeking the best social
housing offer to purchase this element of the development. In this way I am
able to add real value to schemes.
Negotiating with planning officers, submitting planning appeals, producing
planning appeal statements and proofs of evidence and appearing as anexpert
witness at planning hearings.
Submission of details pursuant to conditions once planning permission has
been received. Delivering sites with a planning permission, which can then be
implemented.
Career history at Ruskin Homes:
Initially my area of operation was mainly south and southwest London, and
Surrey. In May 2002 a management buy out of Ruskin Homes took place. That
October I was appointed to a new role, as a Regional Land Manager in order to
facilitate expansion of the business into a new area, in preparation for the
opening of a new regional office. Initially this region was East London and
Essex, within the M25, and later expanded to include South East London and
North and West Kent. I appointed an assistant to help with this endeavour.
We had no contacts in this area and no Company profile there, but we built up a
portfolio in this region through persistence and hard work and managed to
secure a number of sites. I maintained contacts in my old area and continued to
develop sites here as well. The position of Land Director, which had been
vacant since July 2003, was abolished in October 2004. As a result I was
appointed Senior Land Manager responsible for the running of the Eastern
Region Land Team, and report directly to the Board of Directors.
In July 2006 I was given responsibility for heading up the entire Land and
Planning operation for the Company and I appointed two Regional Land
Managers to work with me and a Land Buyer to assist them, forming the new
land team. I continued to report directly to the Board on Land matters and my
position was altered to Director Designate.
4. 1999-2001
Cunnane Town Planning
As a Senior Planner and Associate with the Practice, I worked ona wide variety
of jobs, throughout the UK. For example, advising Pizza Express Plc and
Kentucky Fried Chicken(UK). The Pizza Express sites were mainly in the South
East and London and Included the new restaurants in Wallington and
Southampton. The KFC sites included drive through facilities in Romford and
Ashford, Kent.
I advised Premier Travel Lodge in developing and helping to find new sites. The
Premier Travel Lodge project involved evaluating all their sites in the Midlands
and looking at opportunities of expansion on a planning basis against local plan
policies.
I worked with Romulus Construction on projects to refurbish and develop their
portfolio in West London. They are a major land owner and investment
Company in Hammersmith and were seeking to expand and improve their
property portfolio.
I advised on the redevelopment of the Meridian television studio site in
Southampton, which included a regeneration partnership with the Local
Authority.
I formulated and developed new employment policies to aid rural regeneration
for Kennet District Council.
I worked with many residential house builders such as Laing Homes, Try
Homes and Ruskin Homes.
During my time at Cunnane TownPlanning, I also mentored graduate planners,
promoted the Company, seeking new business, reporting to the Senior Partner.
I have experience of dealing with all types of appeals, hearings and appearing
as an expert witness at public Inquiry.
1994-1999
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
Planning Officer- Development Control
1990-1994
