UK-based developer Socius has announced the creation of Populate, a "place management" operation focused on mixed-use developments. Populate will be 100% owned by Socius and its directors.
The developer, whose current projects include the Soapworks development in Bristol and the refurbishment of Saxon Court in Milton Keynes, states that Populate will provide a specialist consultancy that will include the design and development phase as well as testing operational infrastructure before handing the project over to long-term management. Populus is intended to advise on place management for Socius’s projects and will also aim to partner with investors and asset owners across the country.
Olaide Oboh will head the firm whilst retaining her place on the Socius Board. Barry Jessup, managing director at Socius, will be the chairman. Also joining the team are Jos Taylor from Bow Arts trust as Head of Activation and Enlivenment, Neil Barber who led the leasing of Liverpool One, Level39 co-founder Claire Cockerton, Jupiter Lee-Butz, who led the creation of Factory in Berlin, and Ray Cliff, who has experience in Shopping Centre Management.
Managing Director Olaide Oboh said in a statement: “I am proud to launch Populate, our multi-disciplinary team will pick up the baton from the development process and take a long-term approach to creating vibrant and sustainable places that support communities and provide a platform for businesses to collaborate, innovate and grow."
Barry Jessup, Managing Director of Socius, has described Populate as “an opportunity to create a bridge between development and long-term place management that ensures places are setup to succeed".
Socius has confirmed that Populus will advise on place management for a number of its projects including the £1.2 billion London cancer hub development in Sutton with Aviva Capital Partners. The 1 million-square-foot project is in the planning phase and is estimated to create 13,000 jobs.