2020 in review: We’re All In(novators)

At Mount Anvil we think and work differently, creating outstanding homes by bringing passionate, results-driven people together and supporting them to develop solutions to issues that really matter – both to the business and to them personally. 

As we wrap up 2020 we wanted to celebrate three of our people who have led from the front but stayed in the background this year, highlighting the initiatives they’ve led on and what inspired them to develop those ideas. 

We’ve always championed more and better-quality affordable housing in the capital, and in May Marcus Bate, our Investment Director, took that agenda in hand as he led a team that secured a first-of-its-kind partnership between GLA Land and Property and a private developer. 

This ground-breaking collaboration secured a £50m loan facility from the Mayor of London. That’s not just important financially – it’s funding that will allow us to push forward with delivering 1,400 new homes by 2025 (at least 50% genuinely affordable), and 10,000 homes for Londoners before the end of the decade. 

Celebrating the partnership, the GLA’s Tom Copley called Mount Anvil “one of London’s most dynamic developers”. Marcus Bate added “This innovative new collaboration extends beyond the scope of a traditional investment partnership – there’s a real alignment of cultural values between Mount Anvil and GLA Land and Property, and a shared vision for better quality affordable housing in London. This is a deal that will ultimately enable us to make a real difference to Londoners.” 
Read more about this unique partnership here.

Our Development Director, Emma Foster, led on another of our team’s shared passions this year – improving access to opportunity for all Londoners. In September we launched Emma’s brainchild, Makers & Mentors, backed by the Mayor of London. 

Makers & Mentors offers a new way for talent to access London’s construction industry – a sector-wide platform that shines a light on the huge variety of jobs available in the industry, improves access to those jobs for diverse, disadvantaged and under-represented young people, and helps to create unexpected connections. 

As Emma says, “Makers & Mentors engages with key issues that we’re all passionate about – from the capital’s skills gap to the widespread waste of talent and insight you see when people are overlooked or unable to progress because of financial, social or discriminatory barriers. Makers & Mentors is the right thing to do – for the industry and for people looking for a way into it.” 

Read more about the launch of Makers & Mentors here. 

As well as a commitment to doing the right thing for London socially, from the boardroom to the building site we’re also keenly aware of our responsibility to address environmental issues and create a more sustainable future for London’s built environment.

We finished the year strong on this front, becoming the first residential developer to achieve The Planet Mark New Development certification. 

Mike Valmas, our Head of Pre-Construction, Energy and Sustainability, led on securing the certification. Mike says “The Planet Mark New Development demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering environmentally and economically sustainable places. It also ties in closely with other issues that are always top-of-mind when we’re creating new homes, from reducing fuel poverty and lifetime cost of ownership for Londoners to working closely with local communities.”

As part of The Planet Mark’s partnership with the Eden Project, Mike also oversaw the commission of a new sustainability outreach programme for London primary school students and staff. We’re looking forward to working even more closely with local residents and stakeholders on one of the most important issues of current times. Read more about The Planet Mark seal of approval here.

It’s been another great year for our culture that puts London first, champions learning and innovation, and gives our people the power to lead from the front. Here’s to a 2021 full of exciting new answers to the challenges that still lie ahead for the capital.