The Crown Estate appoints Gareth Bradford as Director of Strategic Business Development

Gareth Bradford has been appointed as Director of Strategic Business Development at The Crown Estate, bringing a wealth of expertise in housing, infrastructure and regeneration policy and delivery.

Gareth joins The Crown Estate following a career spanning local, regional, and national government for over two decades, including time as a policy adviser in the Number 10 Policy Unit. During this time, Gareth has overseen landmark national policy and legislation such as radical planning reform, town centre regeneration, housing supply, public land, coastal communities, enterprise zones and devolution to regions as well as local and regional delivery.

Most recently in his role as the Executive Director of Housing, Property and Regeneration at the West Midlands Combined Authority, Gareth has been involved in negotiating the transfer of unprecedented powers and funding to the region from Government and the development of new regional policy initiatives such as levelling up and investment zones.

He has overseen a brownfield regeneration programme with over £750m of devolved funds which includes the landmark £350m housing deal of March 2018, negotiated by Gareth with Government, and he recently secured the housing, land and regeneration reforms of the 2023 devolution deal settlement. Since 2018, Gareth has led work with public and private partners to accelerate and deliver regeneration and infrastructure projects right across the region.

Following the appointment, Gareth will be responsible for strategic business development including the development of supporting strategies and implementation for The Crown Estate, both at group level and for its business units. He will be instrumental in delivering key strategic projects, including The Crown Estate’s regional regeneration ambitions, and executing opportunities to create real value and transform places.

Gareth Bradford said on his appointment: “I am thrilled to be joining The Crown Estate at a pivotal time for the organisation. I look forward to working closely with all the teams to develop our business, strategy and key projects and collaborate with all key partners across the UK. The Crown Estate holds a significant nationwide portfolio and I’m really excited at the prospect of playing a key role as we look to develop the business of The Crown Estate and create value both for the nation and local communities across the country.”

Commenting on the appointment, Sol Anitua, Executive Director for Strategy, Research & Innovation, said: “Gareth’s unique skills and breadth of experience working together with Government and the private sector to deliver key strategic projects will be invaluable to The Crown Estate. He will play a key role in turning our ambition and strategy into realities by creating strong partnerships with both public and private stakeholders, and delivering projects that address the needs of the nation.”