Ben Cross: fixing broken real estate

Our next speaker is Ben Cross on his mission to create a ‘problem solving’ property business that also makes healthy returns for investors and equity partners. He set up his property company More in 2024.

Drawing on his experience working first as an architect and then for developers Hub and General Projects, Ben believes seeing 'both sides of the coin' has given him a unique insight into the UK's real estate market.

He argues that market is "broken" because it is driven by spreadsheets and risk-return rather than a deep, creative understanding of the built environment and “what makes a great building”.

One of the company’s current projects is the refurbishment of Number One Poultry where More is acting as development manager on behalf of its overseas owners.

At the same time, he is actively looking for development opportunities typically involving the conversion of existing commercial buildings where he  can secure equity investment. 

Ben says: “We live in such a complicated and nuanced world at the moment  but that's also an opportunity for architects because they’re the people who understand these nuances the most.”

Amanda Baillieu and Gus Zogolovitch set up Developer Collective in 2018 to teach professionals how to become design-led property developers and give them the contacts and resources to deliver their projects.

Their book How to be an Architect Developer was published in September '23.

The talk will be followed by networking drinks and nibbles.

This event is supported The Society Building.