Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park development partner, Scarborough Group International (SGI), has brought renowned South Yorkshire-based real estate consultant, Ian Sanderson, on board to accelerate the next phase of development.

With 32 years of commercial development and specialist asset management experience, Ian is one of the UK’s leading leisure and retail property experts. His extensive involvement in all aspects of regeneration, development and delivery has established him as an expert in bringing footfall and vibrancy to high-profile projects across the UK.

As development partner for the project, SGI has a crucial role to play in helping to cement Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park as a world-leading life sciences and innovation hub focused on sport, health and wellbeing. To date, the Group has delivered the Community Stadium, which houses Landing Pad, a dedicated incubation centre for spin-outs, start-ups and scale-ups, providing a fertile environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, SGI also secured planning consent for the National Centre for Child Health Technology, laying the foundation for future advancements in paediatric healthcare on the Park.

Ian’s remit will see him build on these successes by promoting collaboration and engagement among partners and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and progress against the Park’s mission of delivering an Olympic legacy through the four themes of sport, community, environment and economy. Additionally, he will work with SGI’s appointed design team to accelerate the delivery of its 1m sq ft masterplan for the next phase of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Ian is the Founder and CEO of SLR, which asset manages various schemes across the UK, including Springfields, a 45-acre retail and leisure scheme in Spalding for UBS Triton Fund. He has successfully delivered several town centre regeneration schemes and managed major distribution development projects and is currently acting as a development consultant and operator for the 300,000 sq ft Scotch Corner Designer Village in Richmond. Ian is also the Chairman of a large regional sports club, works on several sports-related developments, and is the project lead for the main hub building on the £24 million Stocksbridge Towns Fund. Additionally, he is a partner at BYTEWORKS, a specialist tech scale-up and repurposing vehicle aimed at addressing the tech sector’s need for grow-on space within a supportive environment.

Ian has previously worked with SGI as part of a joint venture between Thornfield Investments and Teesland iOG, the property fund and asset management arm of SGI which was subsequently sold to Australian fund management business, VALAD in 2007.

Kevin McCabe, Chairman of SGI, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ian to the team. Having someone with his extensive experience and innovative approach based on-site will really help to establish and cement relationships with partners and key stakeholders that will prove invaluable as we enter this next phase of the project.

“Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park’s development will not only enhance South Yorkshire’s reputation as a centre of expertise for innovation and life sciences, but also contribute significantly to the local economy, creating jobs and opportunities for innovation and collaboration so it is essential that we drive forward our plans with enthusiasm and determination.”

Ian added: “I’m delighted to be supporting Scarborough Group on this exciting and transformative project.

“The vision for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is truly inspiring and I look forward to working with the team to help bring it to life.”