Regeneration company Wykeland Group has appointed a vastly-experienced asset manager as Property Director.
David Donkin brings 30 years of development and asset management experience to the Hull-based developer, which is driving forward many of the region’s leading regeneration schemes.
Mr Donkin will oversee the successful development of existing assets, including the Flemingate mixed-use development in Beverley, the Bridgehead business park at Hessle and commercial units in Hull’s Fruit Market, which is being transformed by Wykeland in a joint venture with residential developer Beal Homes, in partnership with Hull City Council.
A chartered surveyor, Mr Donkin joined Wykeland from Town Centre Securities PLC, the Leeds-based property investment and development company, which includes the Merrion Centre in Leeds as part of its substantial national property portfolio. Starting as a management surveyor, he worked for Town Centre Securities for 28 years, latterly as Associate Director.
Mr Donkin said: “I was attracted by Wykeland’s exciting development programme and that the business is at the centre of so many key projects at a time when great things are happening in Hull and the wider region.
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to build on the great work in delivering long-term regeneration projects such as Bridgehead and Flemingate and in creating a distinctive vision for the Fruit Market.
“We are seeing an increasing frequency of lettings and openings at Flemingate, which is now becoming well established as a thriving retail, leisure and business location. I will be working with colleagues and stakeholders to ensure Flemingate is fully embedded into the fabric of Beverley.
“The Fruit Market is a unique opportunity to bring together commercial, retail and leisure uses and create a new residential community. I’m excited by the challenge of playing my part in turning the vision of a unique, vibrant and cultural quarter where people live, work and play into reality.”
Wykeland is one of Yorkshire and the Humber’s leading commercial developers, with a £300m development pipeline within the region. Current Wykeland projects include the fast-growing Bridgehead business park on the northern approaches to the Humber Bridge; the flagship @TheDock development, including the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub; the Meltonwest business park, west of Hull; and the £120m Flemingate mixed-use scheme, Beverley’s largest ever regeneration project.
The Wykeland Beal joint venture is also driving forward the £80m regeneration of the Fruit Market cultural and creative quarter, in partnership with Hull City Council.
Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “”David’s appointment brings significant additional experience, expertise and capacity to our team to enable us to maximise the opportunities of our growing asset base.
“A number of our major developments, such as Flemingate at Beverley and @TheDock have come to fruition within the past year and are strongly in demand. In addition, the Bridgehead business park is growing fast and the regeneration of Hull’s Fruit Market is gathering pace.
“David is also very well connected within the property industry, especially in Yorkshire. Those contacts will be beneficial as we continue to develop the business with a clear strategic focus on Yorkshire and the Humber.”
