Developing Properties, Developing Hope Blackpool is known for its landmarks—but behind the familiar skyline, there’s a very different story unfolding. I plan to publish this newsletter every couple of weeks to share what I’m building—and why. To start, a bit about me. Let’s get the “less exciting” bit out of the way first. I’m a retired Chartered Accountant with a broad range of experience. Trained in the City, I went on to hold senior roles across SMEs and larger organisations, both in the UK and Canada. That was the first chapter of my career. The second took a different direction—into social care and housing. I worked with several local authorities, initially as a Finance Manager and later in interim roles as a Business Partner and Head of Finance. It was a shift into something more people-focused, and ultimately more rewarding. Alongside that, I began investing in property—first in Canada, and later in the UK. Like many, I started with buy-to-lets and then moved into serviced accommodation. That side of the business now provides the cashflow that allows me to focus on what I see as the more meaningful opportunity: social housing. This is where property meets purpose. The focus was on supported accommodation but now—for care leavers, those experiencing homelessness, and vulnerable individuals in supported living. It’s work that delivers more than financial returns. It creates stability where it’s often missing, and at the same time builds a resilient, ethical property portfolio. I’m currently working with an investor in Blackpool who has already established relationships with local councils. Together, we’re exploring opportunities to acquire and repurpose properties to meet growing demand. And this is where the image above tells part of the story. Blackpool attracts millions of visitors each year, and an investment £2 billion—that is reshaping parts of the town. But just streets away from the seafront, there’s a different reality: increasing demand for safe, suitable accommodation for those who need it most. We specialise in taking older, often neglected properties—particularly vacant guest houses—and transforming them into high-quality supported living and temporary accommodation. Local authorities are under pressure. Funding has reduced, yet demand continues to rise. Too often, the default solution is expensive hotels and B&Bs—short-term fixes that come at a long-term cost. Our approach offers a better alternative: More suitable, stable accommodation Lower ongoing cost to councils No large capital outlay required And while that may sound practical, there’s a human side that matters just as much. A safe, appropriate home can be the difference between someone spiralling downward, or standing still and someone moving forward. That’s ultimately why I moved into the public sector—and why I’m building this strategy now. In the next issue, I’ll look at the market pressures in more detail, and how this approach is designed to respond to them.
I'm a retired Chartered Accountant but I'm not retired from business.
Through my experiences in both the Public and Private Sector both here and in Canada I've built up…
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