Olivia Estates is a bespoke and privately financed property investment and development company

A wealth of experience

Olivia Estates acquire primarily brownfield residential development opportunities and assets in and around the Home Counties, using the wealth of experience and knowledge within the company, and the financial resources available to it. Without the reliance for 3rd party funding and focussing on key regional development in and around the south-east, Olivia Estates are able to transact with speed.

About Us

About us

Paul and Graham have worked together for over 15 years while at various companies. They discussed setting up a development company, but the timing had not worked until now. Both have extensive experience of acquiring assets on an unconditional, subject to planning / option basis and via promotion agreements. Both also have a design-led, consultation focussed approach to the planning system and have regularly worked with best-in-class consultants.

Land focus

  • Focussed on challenging land opportunities, utilising our extensive experience of the complexity of modern development
  • Home Counties focus (Bucks, Hants, Surrey, Berks, East and West Sussex and West Kent)
  • Sites of minimum 1 acre with a focus on housing over apartments (at present)
  • Focus on off market opportunities with extensive agent network
  • Exceptional pre-site due diligence
A proven track record

A proven track record

The company is headed up by Paul Brett and Graham Priddle. Paul is a property professional with over 29 years industry experience and a proven track record of securing planning permissions on high-profile and often sensitive development sites.

Graham has an MSc from London School of Economics in Housing & Regeneration and over 20 years industry experience in agency, regeneration and private development. He has delivered a range of complex projects in London and the South East.

Their unique understanding and insight into the complexities of the property industry and specifically the planning system and residential development market, has enabled them to successfully deliver on many projects.

Graham Priddle

Graham Priddle

LLB Hons from University of Manchester, MSc from LSE in Housing and Regeneration and MBA from the OU. 20 years multi sector development experience including as a Director at JLL, Partner at Montagu Evans, Land Director at Stonegate Homes and a Director at Ashill Regen.

Paul Brett

Paul Brett

Land Director for the Southern Region of Country & Metropolitan from 1995-2005. Part of IPO and then sale to Gladedale Founder. Main Board Member of Inland Homes from 2005 – 2018. Group Land Director – 7,200 plots of land acquired for Inland. 2018 – 2024 Director of Fulmer Developments.

Current developments

Tunbridge Wells

Olivia has exchanged contracts unconditionally to acquire a 9.34 acre residential development opportunity in the desirable suburban location of Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The site comprises predominantly previously development land with existing income producing commercial buildings totalling 13,270 sq.ft and a farmhouse.

Within the jurisdiction of Wealden District Council it benefits from a Draft Allocation in the Emerging Local Plan for 60 dwellings.

Pre-application discussions with the planning department have been positive and Olivia is working up a detailed planning application.

Watford

Olivia Estates has secured a 1.3 acre commercial estate comprising 32,500 sqft of industrial buildings in a residential area in central Watford, Hertfordshire.

We are preparing a sensitively-designed housing scheme in readiness for a residential planning application following extensive community and stakeholder engagement.

Quenington

In the picturesque Cotswold village of Quenington, Olivia Estates has secured industrial premises totalling c.82,000 sq ft on a site of 4.2 acres

As part of our commitment to high quality design-led development, Olivia Estates have assembled a best-in-class project team and are progressing a planning application working closely with the Parish Council together with engagement with local stakeholders and Cotswold District Council.

A housing led planning application for 47 homes has been lodged with Cotswolds DC.

Previous developments

Woking

  • Acquired unconditionally from an educational trust which used the proceeds of the sale to relocate the existing private primary school into new premises
  • Locally Listed and a protected use class, we worked with Woking Borough Council and local residents to evolve a design led scheme that was supported by the local community
  • Planning permission granted for 47 extra care apartments
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High Wycombe

  • Redundant commercial site and buildings with yard in central High Wycombe acquired conditionally
  • We overcame issues relating to employment, flooding, contamination, rights to light and car parking
  • Planning was granted for 26 new homes
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Wooburn Green

  • Former car dealership premises with large yard acquired conditionally
  • Negative planning history and recent planning refusal on the site for residential
  • Addressed design and massing issues together with significant flood risk objections
  • Planning subsequently granted for a mews style houses scheme of 7 dwellings
  • Construction undertaken and all houses built and sold in 2022
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Ringmer, Lewes

  • 4.8-acre site with extant planning permission for a care scheme / village together with affordable housing
  • Acquired unconditionally
  • Challenging local opposition who opposed all development in the area
  • Planning permission granted for a design led 53 home scheme with a policy compliant quantum of affordable housing and with high levels of environmental sustainability
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Watford

  • Former industrial and commercial premises in central Watford, Hertfordshire acquired unconditionally
  • Issues such as loss of employment, rights to light, design and remediation were addressed to the satisfaction of the Local Authority
  • Planning permission granted for 81 new homes
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Guildford

  • Former car showroom premises and large forecourt acquired unconditionally from LocatEd (Department for Education)
  • Initially cleared and used as a car park, then acquired by LocatEd for a new school before being deemed surplus to requirements
  • This was a very challenging scheme in design terms as it is c. 20m in width and between public allotments and a primary school
  • Through extensive consultation with all stakeholders a scheme was granted for 37 new homes
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Sharpthorne

  • 42 acre former brickworks site acquired unconditionally in an AONB & allocated for employment use in the extant Local Plan
  • Through a comprehensive design approach and extensive stakeholder engagement, detailed planning permission was secured for 108 homes which included 20% biodiversity net gain, a country park (SANG) and exemplar landscaping throughout the scheme drawing on the site’s heritage and railway connections
  • At Planning Committee the scheme was duly praised for its exemplar approach and significant benefits to the AONB and the local community
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Contact us

    If you own land or property that you wish to discuss with us or are aware of an opportunity which you believe may have development potential, please email info@oliviaestates.co.uk

    Olivia Estates
    5th Floor
    167-169 Great Portland Street
    London W1W 5PF