Rapleys appoints another female business head as it invests in growing Neighbourly Matters team

Rapleys has appointed Partner Natasha Bray as Head of Neighbourly Matters as it focuses on further growing and diversifying the team across the UK. 

It is another senior female appointment by Rapleys who, as part of its innovative People Plan, has been committed to diversification, development of talent and becoming the Employer of Choice in property. Other senior female roles include the recent hire of Pippa Harrison as Head of Hospitality, Claire Hutchcraft as Head of Property Management, Rebecca Harper as Head of Investment, Harri Drysdale as Head of Health & Safety (Building Consultancy), Donna Whitlam as Deputy Head of Housing Consultancy, Kate Scholes as Head of Operations and Natalie Jordan as Company Secretary, amongst others.

Natasha has been at Rapleys for over 8 years and was made Partner and Head of Neighbourly Matters for London in 2023. This new role leading the national business line has given her a mandate to grow the team as a key element of the Building Consultancy Division’s ambitions (one of four market facing division in the business) with several appointments to be announced imminently.

This is also in line with Rapleys’ growth plan which has seen strategic expansion and new services launched in both Building Consultancy and the Commercial, Planning and Residential Divisions including Health & Safety, Retrofitting, Hospitality, Utilities and Future Fuels whilst also adding depth and expertise in Education, Renewables, Retail, Offices, Data Centres and Land.

Natasha said: “The Rapleys business has evolved and grown continuously, particularly in the last four years. I am extremely excited to take on the leadership role and be empowered to grow the team across the UK. We have two new appointments to announce soon with further expansion to follow. Developers are fast realising that engaging with experts on crucial issues like Daylight and Sunlight, Rights to Light and Party Walls too late is costly and damaging and, in the current viability crisis, needs thinking about from day one to avoid potential litigation.”

Neighbourly Matters has become increasingly in demand as developers face viability crunches on their schemes alongside Building Safety and Health & Safety legislations – particularly for tall buildings in cities. Over the last 12 months, there have been several high-profile Rights to Light court cases where the awards granted to either side have not even covered costs with a lack of Neighbourly Matters advice early on flagged as a core risk leading to delays and costly outcomes.

Rapleys’ Neighbourly Matters team has experts spread across its eight national offices: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Cardiff and Huntington and both founded and sponsored the UK’s only dedicated CPD and networking group ‘Light Knights’ which has over 250 members.