Who We Are
ANDY MACDONALD
Managing Director
Andy has an established track record with over 30 years in the property development industry in both delivery of major development projects and managing commercial development businesses.
He gained qualifications from Loughborough University, Penn State University and Cambridge University holding a masters degree in Land Economy before starting a career in surveying and property development. A qualified Chartered Surveyor, Andy worked in Edinburgh at Montagu Evans before becoming a Development Director at Stannifer Developments where he established himself as a specialist in major retail led regeneration delivering significant town and city centre retail development projects such as Union Square, Aberdeen and The Brewery Romford.
Andy has led regeneration projects throughout the UK and delivered major town and city centre retail, commercial and mixed use developments. With the purchase by Multiplex of Stannifer Developments in 2004, he became their head of regeneration and latterly Managing Director of Multiplex Developments and led one of the UKs largest regeneration projects in Brent Cross Cricklewood, which secured a planning consent for 14 million square feet in 2010. Leading such major projects not only requires an in depth knowledge and experience of the mixed use sector but also the ability to manage high level relationships between stakeholders. Andy has worked widely with both private and public sector partners in delivery of development projects within successful joint venture partnerships.
Andy was latterly Head of Development at Stockland, one of Australia’s largest diversified property groups and a top 50 ASX company, which he joined in 2008 to manage their UK property development business. Their UK development portfolio extended to 2.5m sqft of developable space across all property sectors including the proposed regeneration of Harlow Town Centre.
Andy is Managing Director of Swanvale Developments and is also an ex-Scotland and Barbarians rugby International. He is also co-founder of the Duchenne DashMax cycle event which since 2016 has raised over £1M for Duchenne Muscular dystrophy.
BRIAN REID
Technical Director
Brian has over 45 years’ experience in the property and construction industry, with an impressive track record having successfully delivered in excess of 5 million ft2 of developments ranging from large town centre and out of town retail, distribution, commercial and research & development schemes. Working across the UK and Europe in a project and technical capacity, he was formerly a regional director with Cyril Sweett, and prior to that with Stannifer Developments as Project Director responsible for the delivery of their property portfolio.
In 1996 Brian joined Stannifer Developments as the director responsible for the project management and delivery of development throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland across all sectors, managing some of the largest and most complex projects throughout the UK. Chelsfield PLC acquired Stannifer Developments in 2007 where Brian took on a key role in the delivery of Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, London
In 2010 in conjunction with his co-directors, Swanvale Developments was created, and over the last 9 years as technical director Swanvale has secured in excess of 1.5 million ft2 of planning consents , successfully managed the construction £20m of critical power and road infrastructure, and delivered in excess of 250,000sqft of R & D development and commercial space.
Swanvale have also been involved in funding and management of specialist projects ranging from technical higher educational facilities to zoological facilties at Twycross Zoo, which demonstrates the diverse experience within the team.
RICHARD BREESE
Finance Director
Following an early career in banking with Barclays Bank, Richard joined Richmond based chartered accountants Meeson Makinson and subsequently London based Deloitte Haskins and Sells, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1985. He is also an Associate of the Institute of Bankers.
Since qualifying Richard has spent 35 years in the property sector, initially joining the head office team of the media group ACC, which owned Bentray Properties and Stoll Moss Theatres. Richard uniquely was retained through two corporate takeovers and was instrumental in setting up the European property division for the new Australian owners, which included the development of a £250 million five star hotel (now the Lanesborough Hotel) and office development at the St George’s Hospital site, Hyde Park Corner and the development of a centro ingrosso in the outskirts of Rome.
Richard subsequently joined Fairbriar plc where he took a key role in restructuring the group, enabling it to become the first company to regain its public listing. Then in 1991 Richard joined PSIT plc, a FTSE 350 quoted property group, becoming Finance Director until the group was taken over in 1997. During this period PSIT recorded impressive asset growth to £350 million, consistently being placed top in the sector in respect of compound growth in earnings, dividends and profits. Whilst at PSIT Richard also found time to take an MBA, gaining a distinction.
In 1998 Richard joined Stannifer Group Holdings, a Stratford upon Avon based commercial property development and investment group, which achieved net asset growth from £15m to £100m during the period to 2005, when it was acquired ultimately by Multiplex Developments. From 2006 to 2009 Richard became Finance Director of Catesby Property Group, another Stratford based commercial property group before joining three of his former Stannifer colleagues at Total Retail Concepts in 2010.
Richard is Finance Director of Swanvale Developments Limited and has been a Trustee of the East Sheen Chengannur Trust since 1983. He is also one if the UK’s leading boardgame designers.
Together with Andy and Brian, in 2011 Richard formed Swanvale Developments. Since that date, as Finance Director, Swanvale have secured in excess of 1.5 million ft2 of planning consents, delivered over £20 million of critical infrastructure, managed and delivered in excess of 250,000 sqft of research and development and commercial space, including a training college. In addition Swanvale have been involved in Project Managing the new Chimpanzee enclosure at Twycross Zoo, adding to the diverse experience of the team.