Genr8 Developments has announced that it has strengthened its development team, making a senior hire following a period of planned and sustained growth.
Warwick Smither joins the team as development director after over 20 years with boutique retail and leisure specialist Cheetham & Mortimer. During his tenure, he gave development and agency advice on schemes as far ranging as MediaCityUK, Rochdale Riverside, Kampus Manchester and Preston Fishergate, as well as strategic advice to clients including Tesco, M&S, Morrisons, and Boots.
He will be driving new opportunities for the Manchester-based developer, seeking prime sites for regeneration across the country.
Speaking on his appointment, Warwick said: “I’ve worked with the team at Genr8 for a number of years and know how talented they all are. It is fantastic to now be joining them at what is a pivotal time for the business, with projects completing and an exciting pipeline of development on the horizon.
“I’m looking forward to getting started and leading what is a brilliant development team.”
Warwick’s appointment comes off the back of consistent growth for the firm, which saw Genr8 recently announce its extended partnership with Japanese fund Kajima – a leading developer that manages 75 social infrastructure assets in the UK with a gross value of £5 billion – to form Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd.
This will build on the success of the partnership at Rochdale Riverside, where together they have delivered 200,000 sq ft of leisure and retail space which is now 90% let. The JV partnership will work with aspirational councils to deliver transformational regeneration projects alongside the Government’s levelling up agenda.
Mike Smith, partner at Genr8, said: “We have known and worked with Warwick over a number of years, so he is no stranger to our business. He is one of the most respected and talented figures in the regional market and will be a huge asset as we drive the business forward alongside our partners Kajima and deliver transformational change to our town and city centres.”
Stephen Perrett of Cheetham & Mortimer commented: “Having worked with Warwick for over 20 years it will be sad to see a good friend and colleague leave the business, but we understand the appeal of joining the Genr8 team and we look forward to continuing to work with them all.”
Genr8 has delivered over £150 million of development in the past five years. Recently, it has supported the regeneration of Rochdale town centre with the Riverside development, 200,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure space which opened for trade at Easter 2020. The next phase, delivering 240 build to rent apartments and a 146-bed Hilton hotel is already underway.
In Stoke-on-Trent, Genr8 has also recently completed the latest phase at its Smithfield scheme, which included Clayworks, 151 build-to-rent apartments, together with a Genr8-owned 140-bed Hilton Garden Inn.
Smithfield is a partnership between Genr8 and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, where Genr8 acts as both developer and investor. Upcoming phases will see a 78,000 sq. ft. commercial office building and a 730-space multi-storey car park brought forward, the construction of which commences on site in April.
Genr8 Developments was founded in 2008 by partners John Early, Mike Smith, and Richard Ingham.