The Bristol Temple Quarter LLP has announced the appointment of four new independent non-executive directors (NEDs) to its board, bringing in extensive private and public sector expertise to guide one of Europe’s most ambitious regeneration programmes.
The new NEDs, selected after a competitive process that attracted over 100 applications, will join the BTQ LLP Board in November. They will sit alongside Chair Lyn Garner and members from the three public sector partners to inject experience across key areas including inclusive growth, large-scale regeneration, development, and community engagement.
The appointments come at a critical time for the Bristol Temple Quarter programme, with the procurement process for a private sector partner due to conclude at the end of the year, and a planning decision on the new Southern Gateway transport hub scheduled for early November.
New Directors Bring Diverse Expertise
The four successful candidates, appointed for an initial three-year term, will help support the delivery of thousands of new homes and jobs. They are:
- Richard Meier: A masterplanning specialist and co-founder/CEO of purpose-led developer Stories. He will draw on his experience as a former Partner at property and regeneration specialists, Argent.
- Claudette Forbes: Born and raised in St Paul’s, Bristol, and a former executive director at the London Development Agency. She will lead on the LLP’s socio-economic brief, focusing on inclusive growth.
- André Gibbs: Currently employed by Related Argent, he brings specialist development and infrastructure financing experience from major regeneration schemes, including London’s King’s Cross and Brent Cross Town.
- David Biggs: A Chartered Accountant and former Managing Director at Network Rail Property. He will lead the LLP Board in Audit and Risk matters, leveraging his non-executive experience at a Registered Social Landlord.
The new directors will join the main LLP Board and sit on two sub-committees: a Land, Development, Investment & Inclusive Growth Committee and an Audit & Risk Committee.
Commitment to Quality Placemaking and Inclusive Growth
The new appointments were lauded by the board’s Chair as essential for the next phase of the project, which West of England Mayor Helen Godwin recently placed at the heart of her vision for growth in the region.
Lyn Garner, Chair of the BTQ LLP Board, said: “I’m thrilled to have appointed such a strong group of non-executive directors at a pivotal time for Bristol Temple Quarter. They will use their experience and expertise to support the LLP team through the next stages of its development across a range of matters from finance to development to community engagement, helping us to deliver quality placemaking, new homes and new opportunities for people in the region.”
The new directors expressed excitement about applying their skills to the transformative project.
Richard Meier said: “Every day I enjoy working with purpose-led, long-term landowners, so joining the Bristol Temple Quarter Board really resonates. It is a project I have followed closely, both in a professional capacity as a development specialist who has worked in Bristol, and as a resident of the West of England. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and helping the team make the most of this amazing, and essential, opportunity to transform the centre of Bristol.”
Claudette Forbes said: “I’ve been involved in development and urban change for three decades and know the difference that regeneration can have in tackling inequality. I’m thrilled to be working in my hometown, using my experience to help build on the inclusive growth work the team have done to date and deliver new opportunities for people across the city.”
André Gibbs said: “Having been involved in the transformations of King’s Cross and Brent Cross in London for over twenty years, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to bear on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to comprehensively change this part of Bristol for the better, creating new opportunities for placemaking, homes and employment.”
David Biggs said: “Bristol Temple Meads station is central to Bristol Temple Quarter. It’s exciting to be able to bring together my experience of the railways and property to contribute to improving the built environment in Bristol in a way that will dramatically improve Brunel’s historic Grade I listed station and its surroundings, helping to make it a new dynamic quarter of Bristol.”
