Track record

Scroll Church, Langley Road, Watford

Development Project Management

Service

Charities Not for Profit

Industry

The project

The Scroll Church had been working for a period of over ten years to have a redevelopment of their existing church on a one-acre site in a desirable Watford residential area. A select development of town houses would have been the funding source for a dramatic architectural design new church. Unfortunately, market pressures and a challenging design element meant that the project never materialized. With falling church membership, the decision was made to dispose of the site rather than redesign a building to keep the owner occupation ongoing.

The disposal generated interest from over 60 parties of children’s nursery, faith and community backgrounds and residential developers of family, luxury and retirement living specialists. Very competitive bidding with several rounds of bids followed by some individuals making best and final offers saw the sale value rise to over £3m.

Our solution

Managing the competition between faith and community groups who bid with their heart rather than their head, as funds allow, against the commercial acumen of a developer often leads to the community group going further and the final competition had to be managed between two such groups.

Project managed two planning applications and developer appointment to affect a no cost development of a new church
Negotiated development agreement between church and developer.
Managed a large marketing strategy that had a very high response
Negotiated the final closing bids to ensure best value
Ensure clients best charitable interests achieved in line with Charities Act
Designated Advisors Report produced for client