Astir Team

Founded Astir in 2018 having previously been CEO of Willmott Residential and prior to that, CFO of Berkeley Group Holdings Plc. Nic brings 25+ years of finance and development experience including establishing the initial rental property portfolio for M&G, one of the UK’s first PRS investments in 2010. As CFO of Berkeley Group during their expansion from 2009 to 2015 he was the architect of their strategy to return £1.7bn of cash to shareholders, while maintaining growth to in excess of 42,000 plots.

Previously co-founder of Spring Residential and prior to that, Land Director at Berkeley Homes. With over 30+ years experience, Alan has a broad-based land, planning and technical background.

Alan has operated in all sectors including retirement, starter homes, student and high-end prime residential and has also acted in a DM role on behalf of Receivers and Financial Institutions.

Prior to Spring and Berkeley, Alan held land positions at McCarthy & Stone and Laing Homes.

Tim joined Astir in 2019 and has overseen the development of Astir’s first major scheme in West Hampstead. This included stepping in to directly manage the development when the main contractor became insolvent. Tim’s involvement was from inception, switching to construction management and support of Astir’s broader growth plans.

Tim brings a diverse experience to the team with a background in Mining and Metals investment with senior roles at Glencore Plc and Xstrata Plc.

An experienced Land and Development Director, having held senior roles at Countryside Partnerships West London and Berkeley Group.  Percy’s career spans 11 years at the Berkeley Group, working his way up from a graduate position to Land & Development Director.

Percy is a Chartered Surveyor and has worked on the acquisition, planning and development management of a number of significant residential developments in London and the South East for both Berkeley Group and Countryside Partnerships. Percy’s key focus for Astir is to identify and secure new opportunities.

Matt has in excess of 20 years’ experience, having worked at both Berkeley Group and on one of London’s most high-profile mixed-use developments – Battersea Power Station.  Most recently he was Chief Operating Officer at EcoWorld London.

Predominantly focussed on Development Management in his early career, he has subsequently been responsible for a number of different disciplines, which has afforded him the opportunity to gain a broad and balanced understanding of the development industry.

Previously CEO of Apo Group, a leading BtR operator with over 2,000 homes under management.

Matthew has been at the forefront of the Build-to-Rent sector since it began to take off in the UK, launching one of the very first BtR development companies in 2013, be:here, which succeeded in attracting early institutional capital into the sector.

At Apo Group he proved that a performance-focussed operator can make a material difference in maximising investment returns and asset values.

David has almost 35 years of experience in the construction industry, with over 10 at MD level at Willmott Dixon (where he oversaw 190 staff members), EcoWorld London and Boshers.

He was worked across a broad spectrum of sectors including education, health, hotel and leisure including new theatre construction, sports facilities including stadium and Formula 1 factory facilities, retail and commercial office space.​

At EcoWorld he was the construction lead for the Kew Bridge Development comprising a new Football Stadium and over 600 apartments, some of which were delivered via modular construction.

Chris has overseen development of Astir’s first major scheme in West Hampstead, comprising 180 homes and 20,000sq.ft of retail and office space.

He was previously Project Director at Spring Residential, responsible for delivering luxury homes on behalf of HNW clients.

Before that worked on major residential-led projects across London for Berkeley Group, including Southall (3,000 homes) and the Riverlight development Nine Elms.

Chris has a 1st class honours degree in Construction Project Management and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Most recently Matt was a Director of BtR operator Apo Group, responsible for revenue, value creation, marketing and brand.

He was previously Head of Asset Management for Be Living and EcoWorld London, focusing on completed BtR developments, including leasing and property management.

Matt has worked in the residential industry for 25 years, including 15 years in estate agency, most recently as Director of Property Management for one of London’s largest agencies overseeing a portfolio of 20,000 homes across the London.

John has worked in land acquisition, planning and development for over 20 years, focussing on residential-led schemes and more recently, in alternative living uses.

Previous roles include Acquisitions & Development Director at The Zog Group (a HBOS fund), where he worked for 10 years.

More recently he joined Noble House Properties to acquire both consented and unconsented sites in London and take them through planning and construction.

Dan qualified as a Chartered Accountant whilst working at Berkeley Group.

He was the financial lead on a £0.9bn GDV project, providing oversight of cash, budget and risk management across Land, Sales, Customer Service and Construction.

He has been a key part of the Astir team for 2 years including delivering the estate management and customer service/relations functions.

Lewis previously spent three years at the Berkeley Group, specialising in the acquisition of large-scale, residential-led regeneration projects on complex brownfield sites.

He gained extensive development experience with Berkeley East Thames, contributing to major projects such as Royal Arsenal Riverside and Kidbrooke Village, where his role included sourcing and securing commercial tenants, successfully partnering with renowned brands like Tesco and Starbucks.

Brandon joined Astir in late 2021 as a Land Manager. He works within the wider Land and Development team with responsibility for sourcing and acquiring new land, as well as managing planning applications.

With a PhD from the University of Birmingham and coming in from outside of the residential sector, Brandon brings a unique offering to the team with the ability to approach issues with a fresh perspective.

Dean is a results-driven Technical and Design Team Manager with over 20 years of experience. He has a proven track record in delivering large-scale projects through clear goal setting, stakeholder engagement, and strong communication.

With expertise in both regional and international markets, he excels in managing expectations, overcoming challenges, and finding effective solutions. His diverse skill set ensures optimal design to support procurement and construction programs.

Mike has nearly 40 years of experience in the construction industry, specializing in commercial and contractual matters. He has expertise in preconstruction and operational management with the Berkeley Group, overseeing land viability, development planning, and project delivery.

Having worked with both Contractors and Developers, he has held senior roles, including Commercial Director and Managing Director at a leading international development firm, where he implemented key procurement and cost control procedures. Meticulous and thorough, Mike has led projects up to £350m and played a key role in recruiting, training, and mentoring staff.

Michael has over 20 years of experience in commercial management within the construction industry. He leads site-based commercial teams from procurement to final account, fostering transparency with stakeholders. His deep understanding of construction processes and costs ensures alignment between commercial functions and client goals. He has successfully managed financial accounts for high-end, complex residential developments and brings valuable supply chain experience.

His expertise in value engineering, cost appraisals, and design challenges enhances project efficiency. He is also skilled in handling insurance matters and the loss adjustment process, ensuring strong financial and contractual management.