Bill Houle FRICS is a Chartered Surveyor based in the West Midlands with a wealth of experience across all sectors of property. He was a Director of Phoenix Beard Chartered Surveyors for many years before setting up his own property development company in 2001. He has developed an award winning apartment scheme and delivered projects in partnership with banks, other developers, investors and occupiers in the West Midlands and throughout the UK. His developments have ranged from BREEAM Excellent offices to industrial estates and student housing.
I formed Trigram Properties, a partnership development company in 2001. I undertook and led a series of commercial partnerships to bring forward development projects in Birmingham, the West Midlands and elsewhere. One example is Drayton Manor Business Park, Tamworth where working with the equity arm of HSBC we acquired a 500,000 sq ft factory premises, refurbished and relet vacant accommodation, negotiated planning consents with Lichfield District Council, renegotiated tenants leases and liaised with the local community and adjoining businesses. I led the team through a complex business plan making this one of HSBC’s most successful development projects.
Trigram acquired the derelict former Birmingham Athletics Institute from Birmingham City Council. Completed in 2007, this mixed-use mainly residential scheme comprises 38 apartments and 2 small offices. 22 of the apartments are listed and the majority were sold to owner occupiers. The development won awards for both marketing and conservation. It is located in the heart of Birmingham City Centre next to the Mailbox.
Through Trigram Properties, I developed a close relationship with Optima Community Association and its partners Crest Nicholson. I have met and liaised closely with local resident groups both within and outside the Optima board and presented complex property regeneration solutions for specific sites. Some of these I subsequently implemented. These include “Birmingham One” an 18 storey student housing tower that brings a new generation and new life as well as providing much needed sports facilities to the community. Also, using a complex funding solution I developed a new green office building at Bath Row, Langley Point which has now been sold to become a new Academy bringing improved education into the area completing that sector of regeneration for the community.
In the early nineties I became a trustee of the Birmingham Conservation Trust. I was also honorary secretary and a director of the Trust’s development company. One of our projects was the delivery of the “Back to Backs” a prestige project sold to the National Trust and now their most successful City Centre project. I now sit on the City’s Conservation Heritage Panel.
As treasurer of the Birmingham Design Initiative I organised over a number of years the bi-annual Bdi Industry and Genius awards. These prestigious events hosted by notables such as Kevin Mcloud of Grand Designs contributed to the recognition of Birmingham as a design led centre and were great fun to be involved with.
I have been appointed as a Governor of Queen Alexandra College in Harborne. Our students have visual impairment and other disabilities. The college creates an inspiring learning environment and supporting their work with my property expertise is a rewarding experience.
I live with my wife, Julia and a lot of animals on a small farm at the bottom of Kinver Edge in Worcestershire. My hobbies include mucking around with cars and horses. I also enjoy gadgets and a good electronic book!