Rapleys grows Residential division with key hire to spearhead Public Sector Development Consultancy team

UK, January 2024 – Rapleys has started 2024 off with further growth, building upon the eight Partner-level hires in 2023 with the appointment of Jonathan Bernstein as Partner in the Residential Division.

Jonathan will head up the Public Sector Development Consultancy Team, sitting under Nick Fell as Head of Residential and Angus Irvine as Head of Rapleys Living. He joins from Avison Young where he was a Director. Jonathan has extensive experience in working alongside the public sector in all development consultancy matters. 

Jonathan’s core specialisms include feasibility, viability, partnership arrangements and complex regeneration initiatives and he has worked with a number of London Boroughs in addition to the GLA, Places for London (formerly TfL) and Homes England. He has also acted across the country, with a notable contribution seen in his work on behalf of Manchester City Council on the Northern Gateway project.

In addition, James Strang joins the Charities Not for Profit (CNFP) team as an Associate. James was previously an Associate Partner at Cluttons and specialises in providing agency, development consultancy and valuation advice to organisations in the CNFP sector. James has also worked within the educational sector, acquiring sites for new free schools and colleges, as well as disposing of surplus assets within the Secretary of State’s ownership.  

He has extensive experience in providing strategic advice in connection with land searches, acquisitions, disposals, and development consultancy, portfolio analysis, viability assessments and development options. reports. In addition, James has led the marketing and subsequent disposal of numerous types and scales of development and investment opportunities.

In 2023, Rapleys added a number of senior hires in Residential including Simon Corp as Partner, having acquired his consultancy s106 Affordable Housing in the Residential Consultancy side of the division; Mat Shenton as Partner and Head of New Homes effectively launching this new service and team, and Tom Spencer as head of Development Consultancy, both part of the Rapleys Living side of the Division, alongside Jonathan’s team. 

The Charities Not For Profit had a strong 2023, transacting over half the market in churches alone.

Nick Fell, Head of Residential said: “We are delighted to welcome both Jonathan and James to the Residential Division and to start 2024 off as we mean to go on. Both bring expertise that will add further strength and depth to our client services. We will continue to invest in growth and add strategic hires in areas we have identified as opportunities to add value for clients or to take market share.”