The Mayor of London’s development corporation (OPDC) has appointed Marianne Brook as its new Development Director. This comes as OPDC gears up its regeneration plans in the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area.
Marianne’s appointment follows the recent appointment of Gareth Blacker as OPDC’s Executive Director of Delivery, where they are leading the corporation’s multidisciplinary delivery team, bringing forward thousands of new and affordable homes and major new inward investment and employment into West London.
The key priority to catalyse the corporation’s long-term targets of 25,000 new homes and 56,000 new jobs is to bring forward 70 acres of development at Old Oak, adjacent to the new Old Oak Common super-hub, to form a new, inclusive urban district of 9,000 homes and 11,000 jobs.
Marianne has over 16 years’ experience delivering complex housing and development projects for major clients including Berkeley Homes, TfL, National Grid Property and the NHS.
She joins OPDC from Deloitte LLP where for three years she was seconded to Homes England, leading significant investment and land ownership agreements including OPDC’s Old Oak scheme, Bristol Temple Quarter and Brent Cross South.
Marianne also led Deloitte’s People and Place industry group which focused on the holistic delivery of housing, education and high-quality places nationally, and also specialises in recruiting, training and mentoring both graduates and experienced hires, with a particular focus on championing diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.
Her appointment comes as part of a wider move to expand OPDC’s delivery’s capabilities, building on several years of growth following the adoption of its Local Plan and a £240m capital funding award.
Marianne brings a wealth of talent and experience to OPDC. Her knowledge of delivering complex and large-scale development projects will spearhead OPDC in its mission to realise the Mayor of London’s vision for Old Oak. With an experienced and diverse team in place, we are on track to deliver one of the UK’s most significant regeneration projects.
I’m thrilled to join OPDC at this exciting and pivotal time. As plans ramp up for Old Oak West, the capital’s next major development opportunity, I’m honoured to be part of the leadership team overseeing this hugely important regeneration scheme. I look forward immersing myself in the project and driving forward the delivery of many thousands of homes and jobs, creating a new destination for London.