Willmott Dixon adds management trio as pipeline tops £1bn

By Danny BallPublished On: September 3rd, 2026Categories: News, Top Stories

Willmott Dixon Developments has appointed three development managers as it expands its regional team to support a development pipeline worth more than £1bn.

Emily Cockle and Tom Lowry have joined as senior development managers, while Kassim Bahsoon has been appointed as development manager.

The appointments strengthen the business’s coverage across the North, South, Wales and the Southwest.

Willmott Dixon Developments was launched at UKREiiF in May, bringing together the contractor’s development, regeneration and investment expertise under a dedicated national business.

Development team expands across UK

Tom Lowry joined in June from regeneration developer Urban Splash, where he worked on projects including Royal William Yard in Plymouth and Swansea Civic Centre. He previously held roles at Plymouth City Council and will focus on projects across Wales and the Southwest.

Emily Cockle joins from BCP Council and brings experience across public and private sector regeneration and development projects. Her previous work includes Rochester Riverside in Kent, the Daedalus Enterprise Zone, Whitehill and Bordon, Fawley Waterside, the Solent Freeport and Holes Bay in Dorset. She will support projects across the South.

Kassim Bahsoon joined in August from Property Alliance Group and will work across the North. An MRICS chartered planning and development surveyor, he has almost a decade of experience across residential, commercial, mixed-use and industrial development.

His previous projects include The Limes in Didsbury and Reedham House in Manchester.

David Atkinson, Director of Development and Investment at Willmott Dixon Developments, said the appointments would strengthen the business’s ability to support partners on complex projects.

“The launch of Willmott Dixon Developments brought together the expertise we’ve been successfully delivering on projects for more than a decade, uniting it under a dedicated development and regeneration business.

“As demand from partners continues to grow, attracting talented people with strong public-sector understanding, commercial expertise and regional insight is critical.

“Tom, Emily and Kassim bring a wealth of experience that will strengthen our ability to help partners unlock opportunities and accelerate delivery of complex projects across the UK.”

Regeneration pipeline includes Torbay and Great Yarmouth

The business is currently working with councils, investors and development partners on a number of regeneration projects.

These include acting as a long-term regeneration partner for Torbay across a multi-site town centre and waterfront portfolio, leading masterplanning and planning strategy for North Quay in Great Yarmouth, and working with Dorset Council on a regeneration partnership focused on Weymouth.

Willmott Dixon Developments said its team has delivered more than 1,000 homes over the past decade.

One of its previous schemes is Ashton Rise in Bristol, a 133-home mixed-tenure development for Bristol City Council, which includes 40 per cent affordable homes for social rent.

Further appointments are planned as the business continues to expand its regional teams across England and Wales.