MEET THE TEAM

Mark Hewett

CEO

Having founded Intelligent Land in the depth of the 2008 financial crisis, Mark has become one of the U.K.’s leading authorities on five-year housing land supply delivery forecasting. By giving evidence at over 30 public inquiries over a 10-year period, he has been cross-examined on the subject by some of the leading counsel in the country. With an exceptional success rate not only is he regarded as a valuable expert witness, but in working with leading QCs and barristers is exposed to and is familiar with the thinking of some of the finest legal minds in the world. Aside from housing land supply, Mark’s primary focus is the running of an exclusive portfolio of strategic development land/sites. Working with a blend of both private investors and charities, Mark oversees the delivery of a complex portfolio of sites ranging from small housing projects through to cutting edge digital infrastructure right through to thought-leading 21st-century garden villages. Marks involvement spans initial acquisition strategy to identification and site purchase right through to delivery/investment/exit. Having conceived this strategic land element of the business, the portfolio currently under his personal management has a Gross Development Value (GDV) of more than £1.5 billion. Finally, and because prior to Intelligent Land he ran land acquisition and land value optimisation for one of the U.K.’s largest plc housebuilders, Mark provides specialist land value optimisation consultancy to a limited number of clients. In his spare time, Mark is a devoted family man and is currently writing a book for young entrepreneurs

Specialisms: Development advice, Land Value Optimisation, Viability advice, Land Brokerage, Complex contractual negotiation

Graham Freeman

Partner

Graham has over thirty years’ experience in residential land agency and development within the UK house building sector. His particular skill area is the acquisition and disposal of land, and development land appraisals. He has successfully completed the sale and acquisition of many hundreds of millions of pounds of property, acting on behalf of major land owners. These include public limited companies, private house-builders, Housing Associations, receivers as well as private land owners and Estates. Prior to joining Intelligent Land, Graham was the Divisional Managing Director of one of the UK’s largest residential land agencies.

Specialisms: Development advice, Land Brokerage, Housing Market Analysis.

Simon Trueick

Managing Director

A chartered Town Planner with over 30 years experience in both the private sector and local government, Simon joined Intelligent Land in 2019, having been head of planning policy at Christchurch and East Dorset Councils.

Simon has expertise in all aspects of planning, including handling planning applications , making responses to Local and Neighbourhood Plans, project management of large and complex development projects, asset reviews, housing land supply and other policy analysis, and planning appeals.

Simon’s particular skill is the ability to understand a client’s needs, from a large estate or housebuilder, to individual householder, and to guide them through the complexities of the planning process. A thorough understanding of how local Councils work, means that Simon always aims to work with the Council planning department to get the best result for the client.

Specialisms: Strategic and Local Planning, Planning Application project management, Development Management advice, Expert Witness, Site Searches and analysis.

Nigel Jacobs

Director of Operations

Nigel has a successful background in strategic and local planning with an outstanding track record in delivering planning policy. This included both one of the first Core Strategy’s and Community Infrastructure Levy’s in the country when Planning Policy and Implementation Manager at Borough of Poole. He was instrumental in producing the Poole Regeneration Masterplan which delivered the iconic Twin Sails Bridge, a £40m infrastructure project unlocking £500m of investment. He has managed partnerships and relationships across local authorities and has specific skills in finding development opportunities.

Specialisms: Strategic and Local Planning, Planning Application project management, Expert Witness, Housing Land Supply analysis, Site Searches and analysis.

Mark Sturman

Partner

Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with 20 years experience in the UK commercial and residential property sectors.  Mark’s role at Intelligent Land is wide ranging and includes development viability, market research, land agency and housing land supply.  Mark is currently focusing on development viability, where he acts for land owners and developers.  Previously Mark was a Partner at Strutt & Parker where he worked in the London based, retail investment and development team.  Mark has also acted as Asset Manager for a portfolio of retail parks owned by Pillar Properties.

Specialisms: Viability advice, Section 106 negotiations, Housing Market Analysis

Richard Henshaw

Planning Consultant

Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with 20 years experience in the UK commercial and residential property sectors.  Mark’s role at Intelligent Land is wide ranging and includes development viability, market research, land agency and housing land supply.  Mark is currently focusing on development viability, where he acts for land owners and developers.  Previously Mark was a Partner at Strutt & Parker where he worked in the London based, retail investment and development team.  Mark has also acted as Asset Manager for a portfolio of retail parks owned by Pillar Properties.

Specialisms: Viability advice, Section 106 negotiations, Housing Market Analysis

Naomi Sargeant

Executive Assistant

Naomi is an Executive Assistant with over ten years of experience providing comprehensive support to C-level executives, including CEOs. She plays an instrumental part in the day-to-day smooth running of Intelligent Land and providing EA support to our executive team.

David Sax

Head of Partnerships and Investments

Having joined a corporate estate agency in the mid 80’s David spent 6 years in various residential offices. David then left and moved into Finance and residential development. He spent 15 years in this field eventually selling his practice to Zurich. A complete change in industries found David starting his own pub company. This he did for many years expanding his team to 60 employees. Many regional and national awards were won by his pubs and David eventually sold out to a PLC. After a hiatus and long rest, David found himself back in the land and property business where he joined IL as Head of Partnerships and Investments in 2023. David works with a number of regional and national developers sourcing and securing off market land deals. He is also very active in the RP market having cultivated several strong contacts within this area.
Specialisms; Identifying land opportunities. Networking and relationship building. Negotiating acquisitions.

Fiona Astin

Business Development Manager

Fiona has worked in the affordable housing sector for around 35 years, principally in residential development. She’s worked at regional director level of a large Registered Provider so is familiar with the challenges and ambitions of the sector. She has experience in delivering multi-tenure schemes as well as S.106 provision.

Specialisms: Extra Care housing, community-led housing, S.106 negotiations, Registered Provider and Local Authority housing delivery.