John Howell, the former head of Bovis Lend Lease’s southern division, has joined development manager Candy & Candy in the newly created role of construction director

Howell has been taken on to work across Candy & Candy’s larger projects, including Chelsea Barracks and Middlesex Hospital, both in London.

He confirmed his appointment this week saying: “There are a number of projects starting to come forward and we are looking at a turnover of £500m in construction by 2009.”

Howell added that the intention was not to develop a big internal construction department but to continue using consultants.

Candy & Candy, which is run by brothers Nick and Christian Candy, both in their early 30s, is known for producing luxury residential developments. In April it headed the consortium that bought the 12.8 acre Chelsea Barracks in west London for almost £900m, making it the most expensive housing development per acre in the UK.

Howell left Bovis in March after 35 years. His departure came after Murray Coleman, the UK chief executive of Bovis, replaced him with Julian Daniel as southern head last November.

It also emerged this week that Colin Harvey, the former head of Bovis’ northern division, is leaving the company. Harvey was removed from his role by Coleman in March.

Postscript

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