Director among four appointments to Anwyl Homes’ technical team

NEW technical director Chris Brady will lead a new-look technical department at Anwyl Homes’ Cheshire and North Wales region, which has been bolstered by the appointment of four experienced employees.

Based at Anwyl’s Flintshire headquarters at St David’s Park, Ewloe, the other new recruits – engineering manager Lorna Carlisle, senior development engineer Ryan Dodd and development engineer Simon Maxwell – will strengthen the existing technical team.

Having worked for a variety of engineering consultants for almost 30 years, including Atkins, WSP and more recently CampbellReith Consulting Engineers for 14 years, Chris brings a wealth of design and consultancy experience to the team.

Chris, from Chester, has a degree in Civil Engineering and is also a Chartered Civil Engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers. He has worked extensively in development planning for both the public and private sector clients over his career and switched from a consultant role to working for a developer in 2021. He said: “I had always harboured a passion to work for a developer. As a consultant, one is often involved in a small element of a project, but the developer role enables project ownership from inception to completion. I enjoy being able to manage and deliver projects all the way through and to be part of a process that makes a real difference to our customers’ lives.”

Chris is already relishing the challenges that delivering large-scale housing developments bring and is also keen to nurture the careers of those in his team. He added: “I enjoy mentoring and supporting a team, seeing people develop and expand their capabilities and experience.”

Lorna Carlisle, from Mold, started her career 20 years ago with an engineering consultancy, designing infrastructure for new developments. She holds a HND in Civil Engineering and, since 2006, has worked with a number of housebuilders, most recently Duchy Homes.

Lorna said: “I enjoy the complexities involved within engineering and understanding what’s involved to develop a site. I love seeing a development from conception to handover and I’m always striving to deliver better design. My main focus going forward will be to assist with land appraisals to ensure we can successfully bid for and acquire new sites.”

Senior development engineer Ryan Dodd, from Wirral, has previously worked for several housebuilders and engineering consultancies. He began his career as a trainee technical with Wirral Council, following in his grandfather’s footsteps who was head of technical services.

Ryan, who has a HNC in Civil Engineering, said: “I’ve worked for a number of housebuilders from small private companies to large PLCs and finally now Anwyl which, from my initial weeks, is by far the best company I have worked for. The business has the feel of a PLC, with well-organised principles of working, yet it has the freedom of being a private company with a lot ambition.

“I really enjoy the day-to-day challenges of the housebuilding industry and it is rewarding to see the team’s hard work take shape on site. I don’t think there is one day that is the same as the previous and it keeps you on your toes.”

Recently appointed development engineer Simon Maxwell, from Buckley, achieved a first-class honours degree in Civil Engineering 10 years ago, having attended university as a mature student. Following stints with Flintshire County Council, Capita and Mott Macdonald Bentley, he joined Anwyl Partnerships three years ago before transferring to the Anwyl Homes division.

He said: “I’m looking forward to working with the wider construction team to deliver our current developments. I’m keen to gain experience in the early enabling stages of any future developments and use my civil engineering knowledge to bring added value.”

Phil Dolan, managing director for Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales, said: “Chris, Lorna, Simon and Ryan’s appointments have strengthened our technical department and all four bring vast amounts of experience within the housebuilding sector to their new roles. They are highly valued new additions to the company and I’m confident that the team will provide much needed support as we look to grow our business further over the next 12 months and beyond.”