Hammerson hires ‘specialist’ QS and PM firms for new ventures

Top client Hammerson is reviewing its line up of QSs and project managers. The developer has added Gleeds and EC Harris to its regular stable of consultants and could add more.

They join long-standing consultants to Hammerson, Gardiner & Theobald, Cyril Sweett and Davis Langdon. Davis Langdon has been the developer’s adviser on office schemes, while the former two advise the firm on retail developments.

Jon Emery, head of development at Hammerson, said he wanted to bring in specialists. In particular, Hammerson, which has traditionally focused on retail and office schemes, is looking for residential expertise to reflect its growing workload in the sector.

Emery said he hoped to use EC Harris on all of the firm’s residential work.

Hammerson’s residential projects include a 150-home development in Leicester which marks the first time the firm has developed homes without partnering with a residential developer.

The designer can be small, but not the QS or PM

Jon Emery, head of development, Hammerson

Gleeds was chosen on the strength of its project management arm.

Emery said Hammerson favoured bigger QS and PM practices. “They are essential to the delivery of projects, they underpin them. The designer can be small, but not the QS or PM.”

He added that fees were not the main factor when selecting consultants. “We have never appointed someone because of fees. But we do look at them closely, we are commercial and demanding on fees, but we’re also respectful and understanding towards our consultants.”

The shake up follows a similar review of architects. The firm has begun to use small specialists and innovative practices. For example Foreign Office Architects has been picked to design the John Lewis store for Leicester’s Shires centre.

Hammerson plans to review its engineers next. The developer has £1.5bn worth of projects currently underway.