A chartered surveyor with over 20 years worth of property development experience, Alan Chatham’s name is synonymous with the architectural renaissance of Birmingham city centre.
First with property company Rosehaugh, then Argent and now the Birmingham Development Company – co-founded with business partner Mark Billingham – Mr Chatham is behind some of the city’s most prestigious mixed-use developments.
Never afraid of a challenge, he has taken on some of Birmingham’s most difficult regeneration projects ... and succeeded.
The first was Brindleyplace – a run-down area of the city converted into prime office space for Birmingham’s growing business community, as well as a hub of bars, restaurants and galleries.
During the development of Brindleyplace, Mr Chatham also cemented his working relationship with Mr Billingham. So, when the former Royal Mail sorting office was put up for sale, the pair paid £4 million to take up a redevelopment challenge many in the region’s property community were too afraid to touch.
The result was the award-winning, £200 million retail and lifestyle development, The Mailbox, incorporating 1.5 million sq ft of redevelopment. Through skilful negotiation, he was also able to secure tenants such as Harvey Nichols and Emporio Armani – brands previously unwilling to move into the city.
With a gross annual income of £10 million, it is also home to the BBC, Telewest and Network Rail, 14 high quality restaurants and bars and 144 luxury apartments.
The developer continues to be at the heart of improving the retail offering of the city centre through his work with other retail bodies. In April this year he was elected chairman of the city centre's new Business Improvement District – Retail Birmingham
Aimed at improving shopping facilities in the city, Mr Chatham oversees the work of the partnership – which includes the Bullring, The Mailbox, Pallasades, Pavilions, New Street, High Street, Corporation Street, Great Western Arcade and Piccadilly Arcade.
His latest project – the 450,000 sq ft final phase of The Mailbox called The Cube – is no less of a challenge than the first two.
Designed by iconic architect Ken Shuttleworth, the complex building has been unable to attract a construction team. Undeterred, BDC is putting together their own construction firm, Build Ability, to deliver the iconic £75 million building by 2009.
Each job with the firm also comes with a guaranteed share of 60 per cent of the company’s profits.
The benefits of this need hardly be said. In April, The Mailbox and The Cube were jointly put up for sale for £300 million – making it the city's biggest ever commercial property deal.
It is thought the development has attracted the attention of US investment firm The Carlyle Group, which last year paid £150 million for Colmore Square – the former Post and Mail building.
But the sale, which is expected to take place by autumn this year and will make Mr Chatham and Mr Billingham instant millionaires, is unlikely to stop this developer. Rumours already abound another Birmingham project is in the pipeline, although details have not yet been revealed.
