Lucian
Lucian Grant. Property developer. Founder of Otterlo.
Lucian has spent his working life around development — from construction sites in King’s Cross as a teenager, through senior land and development roles at Berkeley Group, to founding Otterlo in 2013. His work is concentrated at the front end of complex development: identifying and testing opportunities, understanding constraints and finding practical routes through planning, commercial, technical and stakeholder uncertainty.
Selected developments
Different challenges. A consistent approach.
Trinity Village, Borough
Underused institutional estate → three new buildings / 64 mixed-tenure homes / Grade A offices.
Otterlo was appointed alongside Galliard and Acorn Property Group by the Corporation of Trinity House to redevelop a former Post Office sorting warehouse and and a purpose-built Crown Court, vacated by the Ministry of Justice after 65 years.
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Otterlo originated and led the pre-construction phase, including site acquisition, securing planning permission and progressing design to RIBA Stage 3. Galliard and Acorn Property Group subsequently led delivery.
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Completed in 2019, the development enabled the Corporation to retain the freehold and a portfolio of 15 apartments generating income for its maritime charities.
New Marlborough Yard, Southbank
Acquisition / planning / occupier agreement / successful exit → 274-key Premier Inn and new street.
Otterlo originated a site from Southwark College with an extant planning consent and led the pre-construction process through site acquisition, planning permission and an agreement for lease with Whitbread, before the site was sold to Frogmore. The Premier Inn and Bar + Block restaurant were subsequently completed in 2020, set around a new street and pocket parks.
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The planning strategy achieved an 88% increase in gross internal area (GIA) over the extant residential consent. The introduction of a new street and pocket parks supported an initial 47% uplift. The resulting building envelope then accommodated additional lower floors suitable for hotel use, increasing GIA by a further 28% against the enlarged scheme.
St Katharine’s Precinct, Limehouse
Complex institutional land → meanwhile use + long-term development strategy → 130,000 sq ft scheme progressed through major pre-construction risks.
Otterlo has acted as Development Manager on a complex mixed-use proposal adjoining Limehouse Station, bringing planning, design, commercial, technical and stakeholder issues together around the long-term objectives of the Royal Foundation of St Katharine.Â
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In Limehouse, RFSK combines its retreat and hospitality mission with practical neighbourhood support, including food aid, affordable community spaces and activities that tackle social isolation.
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Its ambition for the 1 acre Northern Site is to turn underused land into a permanent, publicly accessible precinct, using residential development to fund expanded retreat and community facilities, affordable workspace and a new connection between Limehouse Station and Shadwell.
Selected relationships
The Corporation of Trinity House
Established by Royal Charter in 1514 by Henry VIII, Trinity House is a maritime authority and endowed charity responsible for navigational safety, lighthouse services, seafarer welfare and maritime education across Britain.
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Partner / Developer Manager
The Royal Foundation of St Katharine
Founded in 1147 by Queen Matilda, Britain's oldest religious charitable trust has evolved from a medieval hospital into an East London centre for hospitality, reflection, retreats and community service.
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Developer Manager
Galliard
Partner / Developer Manager
Acorn Property Group
Partner / Developer Manager
Whitbread
ATL Occcupier
Owner-side judgement
A bounded decision review before substantial money, control or land is committed.
An underused asset may offer considerable potential without an obvious route to realising it. Early design, valuation or developer engagement can create momentum before the owner has established which route best serves its objectives.
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Otterlo applies first-hand development judgement to compare credible routes against the owner's financial priorities, risk appetite and need for control. Working from the available evidence, the review distinguishes what can be concluded now from what genuinely requires further investigation.
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An underused asset may offer considerable potential without an obvious route to realising it. Early design, valuation or developer engagement can create momentum before the owner has established which route best serves its objectives.
​
Otterlo applies first-hand development judgement to compare credible routes against the owner's financial priorities, risk appetite and need for control. Working from the available evidence, the review distinguishes what can be concluded now from what genuinely requires further investigation.
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Specialists remain essential. Otterlo identifies which questions are worth putting to them, in what sequence, and which work can wait — working alongside existing advisers rather than duplicating their expertise.
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The outcome is a concise decision paper: a recommendation, its critical assumptions and a sequenced plan for expenditure and decision gates. Typically completed within four weeks for a fixed fee, this is a distinct owner-side advisory appointment. Neither the recommendation nor the fee depends on development proceeding or Otterlo securing further work.
Specialists remain essential. Otterlo identifies which questions are worth putting to them, in what sequence, and which work can wait — working alongside existing advisers rather than duplicating their expertise.
​
The outcome is a concise decision paper: a recommendation, its critical assumptions and a sequenced plan for expenditure and decision gates. Typically completed within four weeks for a fixed fee, this is a distinct owner-side advisory appointment. Neither the recommendation nor the fee depends on development proceeding or Otterlo securing further work.
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Otterlo is investigating whether a development opportunity exists where industrial occupiers need substantially more electrical capacity than conventional premises typically provide.
Current work
Powered industrial
The challenge is not simply finding land with power. It is establishing whether sufficient capacity can be delivered in the right location, by the required date and at a cost that supports a commercially viable development.
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The investigation brings Otterlo's experience of identifying and progressing complex London developments to an adjacent property market.
Real demand. Deliverable power. Viable economics.
Otterlo is investigating whether a development opportunity exists where industrial occupiers need substantially more electrical capacity than conventional premises typically provide.
​
The challenge is not simply finding land with power. It is establishing whether sufficient capacity can be delivered in the right location, by the required date and at a cost that supports a commercially viable development.
​
The investigation brings Otterlo's experience of identifying and progressing complex London developments to an adjacent property market.
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We are interested in real requirements, sites and transactions where electrical capacity has materially influenced a property decision. If you have encountered such a situation, or have relevant market or technical insight, we would welcome a conversation.
We are interested in real requirements, sites and transactions where electrical capacity has materially influenced a property decision. If you have encountered such a situation, or have relevant market or technical insight, we would welcome a conversation.
A difficult site, an unresolved decision, or an opportunity worth testing?
Lucian