The Ptarmigan Land multi-disciplinary team is skilled and experienced in strategic land planning, master development, infrastructure delivery, finance, tax and law.
MANAGEMENT
CHARLES WHEATMAN BSc HKIS
Chief Executive
Charles is a co-founder of Ptarmigan and has spent his whole career in property. Formerly with Jones Lang LaSalle, in both London and the Far East, he has a BSc Hons in Urban Estate Surveying and until recently was a Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is married with three children, is a keen rugby supporter and lives near Hungerford in Berkshire.
HUGO KIRBY FFA CF
Managing Director
Hugo is a co-founder of Ptarmigan and has been involved in property all of his working life – in planning, refurbishing and developing both residential and commercial properties. He has had an entrepreneurial career that has included IT, trading in derivatives and financial markets as well as attending London Business School. He is a Corporate Finance accountant and an affiliate of the Royal Town Planning Institute. A passionate skier and ocean racer.
CRAIG NEILSON BSc MRICS
Development Director
Craig joined Ptarmigan in January 2006 and was appointed a Director in 2009. He previously worked at Davis Langdon and Land Securities Trillium. Craig oversees all sites that Ptarmigan are involved in from conception to disposal. When he is not at work he enjoys travelling as well as outdoor pursuits.
WENDY HOWARD
Director, Accountant
Wendy has been managing company finances for 20 years and handles all aspects of Ptarmigan’s business accounting and finance functions. Married with two children she acts as mentor to a number of start up businesses.
SOUTHERN TEAM
JOSEPH HAYES MAPAM
Land Director
Joseph started his career as an engineer, advising clients on delivering highway infrastructure. He moved client side in 2012 developing his skills in site assembly, land promotion and development management and has delivered a number of exciting schemes across the south east. At weekends, Joseph reminisces on his once very active social life but is now fully committed to attending to his young family at home.
OLIVIA DICKIE MRTPI
Assistant Development Manager
Olivia joined us from Strutt & Parker to help look after our wide range of projects. A keen sportswoman.
OLLY BUCK BA (Hons), Dip TP, MRTPI
Director, Development
Olly began his career as a Town Planner in 2004 and has experience spanning roles within local government, planning & environmental consultancy and commercial development working in a range of sectors. Olly is responsible for promoting projects through the planning process to achieve planning consent and also performs a master developer role for projects under construction. In his spare time Olly enjoys live music and festivals, is a keen swimmer and sports fan.
PETER DOWLING BA (Hons), MSc, MRTPI
Director Development
Peter began his career as a town planner and joined Ptarmigan in 2018 from his position as an Associate Director at Indigo Planning. He has significant experience in securing planning consents on often complex sites across the country. Peter is responsible for assessing new site opportunities and managing the day-to-day promotion of a number of our current projects. Outside of work, he is a keen sportsman and particularly enjoys rugby, running and golf.
ELLE WILLIAMS BSc (Hons), MSc, MRTPI
Development Manager
Elle is an excellent town planner with 13 years of intensive planning and commercial experience with industry leading professional firms. Married with 2 children she finds time in her busy life to enjoy social and sports activities.
NORTHERN OFFICE
STEVE MCBURNEY BSc (Hons) MRTPI
Managing Director, North
Steve joined Ptarmigan to set up and lead the northern office. He started his career in 2000 as a planning consultant at GVA Grimley before moving into client-side roles at CEG and Highgrove. He has extensive experience in strategic land acquisition, planning promotion and land sales. Steve enjoys football and walking.
CRAIG WOOLMER MRTPI
Head of Land & Planning, North
Craig looks after all our Northern projects. He joined us from a strong house building and planning background, as well as having been a councillor and chair of a planning committee. A keen fell-walker.
RETAINED CONSULTANTS
HAIDEE PRIDAY
Retained Counsel
Haidee trained as a real estate lawyer and practiced for 10 years for city firms, including Nabarro and Mishcon de Reya, before becoming a consultant working with legal practices and as general counsel for real estate companies. Haidee has vast real estate experience. She enjoys travel, netball and cooking.
ELIZABETH ORCHARD MEng A.U.S. CEng MICE
Technical Director
Elizabeth is an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer specialising in the sustainable development and project managing the delivery of complex infrastructure. Elizabeth conducts Technical Due Diligence on our sites from acquisition to disposal, and is overseeing the delivery of strategic infrastructure on our larger projects.
IAN TANT
Strategic Consultant
Ian is a Chartered Town Planner with 40 years’ experience in local government and the private sector. For 26 years, Ian was an equity Partner of Barton Willmore LLP, one of the UK’s leading Planning and Design Consultancies: he was the Senior Partner for ten of those years. Ian has also played a leading role in his professional institute, the Royal Town Planning Institute, for which he was the President in 2019 and Immediate Past President for 2020. With his extensive experience in the design and promotion of major developments, Ian provides leading advice on planning and delivery strategies.
SIR MERRICK COCKELL
Strategic Consultant
Sir Merrick is an experienced politician and businessman who has spent over 30 years in Local Government, becoming Leader of Kensington & Chelsea Council and then Chairman of the Local Government Association. He chaired the London Pensions Fund Authority until the end of 2019 and is Chairman of UK Municipal Bonds Agency.