News: Eye look ahead with new appointment

Eye, the Rotherham-based development and asset management firm that delivers complex regeneration and housing projects, has appointed Jean Dent OBE as an associate director.


Jean recently retired from her post of city development director of Leeds City Council. During her career she has been involved in many of the regeneration, infrastructure and cultural schemes that have helped transform the city centre and she recently received an OBE for her services to Leeds.

She has particular expertise in helping developers to unlock stalled projects and helping local authorities realise the full value from their assets. Recent projects Jean has helped get off the ground include Land Securities' shopping centre development Trinity Leeds and the award winning Granary Wharf development by Isis Waterside Regeneration.

Jon Sawyer, managing director and co-founder, at Eye said: "We are delighted that Jean has joined Eye, as we celebrate our fifth birthday. She brings a deep understanding of the seismic changes underway in local government and she is highly respected by public and private sector figures alike in Leeds and the Leeds City Region, as well as nationally.

"Jean will add valuable experience to Eye's growing work on unlocking stalled projects and asset management as well as large development management projects as the market returns."

Jean added: "I am delighted to be working as part of the Eye team. I believe that I can bring a fresh perspective to the development and asset challenges faced by the public and private sectors alike. I hope that the wide range of experience I bring will help Eye to grow further over the next five years."

Based in RiDO's Moorgate Crofts business centre, Eye was established after Jon Sawyer, a development consultant, and Joanne Sawyer, then Rotherham Council's head of implementation, worked successfully together on the award-winning All Saints' Quarter project in Rotherham town centre.

Eye has been involved in realising a number of difficult schemes in regeneration and social housing with schemes still underway despite the difficulties posed by the recession. A particular factor in this is devising clever financial solutions to make otherwise unviable developments happen.

Igloo Regeneration Ltd took a "significant equity stake" in Eye in 2010 and recent projects include devising a pioneering land pooling agreement in Rochdale, advising Manchester City Council on a Private Rented Sector Fund and working on bids for the government's Regional Growth Fund.

Eye website

Images: Eye