London investor-developer Avanton has expanded the roles of key directors and appointed new staff

London investor-developer Avanton has expanded the roles of key directors and appointed new staff, underlining the company’s commitment to continue investing in and expanding operations in the London property market.

Omer Weinberger, formerly Managing Partner, now becomes Chief Executive of Avanton, focusing on funding opportunities and expansion plans across the group. Peter Murphy, previously in charge of development delivery, is now promoted to Executive Director at Avanton, responsible for both development and the planning, design and procurement of all current and pipeline projects.

Formerly a development director at Barratt West London and the Berkeley Group, Peter Murphy has a long and successful track record in delivering some of the very best schemes in London. Avanton is also pleased to confirm that Peter will join its newly established Investment Committee, which already includes the distinguished Sir Michael Fallon, the Chairman of Avanton, and Omer Weinberger, Chief Executive.

The investor-developer is also appointing Elizabeth Williams as an After-care Sales Representative, and Sinead Fox as a Development Analyst. Elizabeth joins Avanton from Conductor where she focused on handovers of large scale residential projects, and she will be reporting to David Ronson, Sales & Marketing Director. Sinead joins after previously working for AECOM and Gardiner & Theobald as a quantity surveyor, and in-house for a developer in South Africa. The company can confirm that Marc Pennick, previously overseeing planning, has left Avanton and the company wishes him the best for the future.

Omer Weinberger, Chief Executive of Avanton says: “Our expanded staffing will help to build our investment and sales after care activities, the latter important now that we have forward sold/reserved 50% of our flagship Coda development in Battersea. In terms of our investment team, we are taking a long-term position on the enduring value of prime London real estate and we believe that there will be opportunities to acquire new sites and projects over the next 12-18 months which is part of our focusing on building our portfolio of London developments.”

Avanton is pleased to confirm that the forward sales/reservations at the flagship Coda mixed-use development in Battersea have generating £120 million worth of sales at values up to £1,404 per sqft. The development provides 130 private sale apartments, with prices starting from £510,000 and 70% priced below £1,000,000, and has appealed strongly to domestic UK buyers, with purchasers including first time buyers, parents buying for children and young couples.

Avanton is currently marketing Coda remotely using 360 degree virtual tours and sales agents working remotely from home/office liaising with applicants via video-calls, telephone and emails.

Avanton has planning permission for 1,152 new homes on the Old Kent Road Ruby Triangle site providing 40% affordable housing and a sports centre on the 1.36 hectare (3.3 acre). Avanton have another site at 651 Old Kent Road, the Carpetright scheme, which is in the planning system and will provide circa 262 units, of which 40% will be affordable homes.Avanton are also proposing to transform the 1.6 hectare (4 acre) Gasholders site on the Old Kent Road into a new £230 million (GDV) mixed use regeneration project which will remediate the industrial land and provide hundreds of new homes including affordable housing, open space and over 50,000 sqft of light industrial commercial use, supporting the Council’s Healthy Living strategy.