The masterplanning and development director of Calthorpe Estates, Ralph Minott, talks his vision for the decades ahead and how an initial ‘passing interest’ in Taekwondo led to an Olympics date!
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
I decided I wanted to be a quantity surveyor at the age of 13 (long story!!!), and made it. I followed my QS dream through consultancy and contracting until redundancy in the early 90’s recession led to a chance role of development manager in the care home sector. The company I worked for morphed in 1998 from elderly care development to under-5’s childcare, when I became one of the five founders and head of property of Leapfrog Day Nurseries, a venture capital equity-based start-up that grew to 39 locations across England and Scotland by 2004.
In 2004, Nord Anglia Education plc acquired Leapfrog and within 12 months I became their group property and development director. I managed an ‘eclectic’ property portfolio and development, growing the nursery division to 110 sites, alongside supporting Learning Services across the UK, and the International Schools, which included its expansion into China. When Nord Anglia sold its day nursery division in 2007 and then moved to Hong Kong, I chose to stay in the UK, joining Calthorpe Estates.
IT’S WHAT I DO
My role covers masterplanning, development and place-making across the 1,600-acre estate, working closely with the city planning and policy teams, visioning for the estate for decades ahead. This has led to the redevelopment of Pebble Mill, New Garden Square, Edgbaston Mill opposite ECG, and development of Edgbaston Village including Greenfield Crescent.
WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE
Personally, for me and my wife Natalie to see our three ‘boys’ – Reece, 24, an architectural assistant, Corey, 23, an apprentice/trainee quantity surveyor, and Perry, 20, a site operative – to continue to be happy and enjoy success in the construction industry that was a foundation for me. Professionally, to help maintain the important synergy of the Calthorpe Estate and Birmingham City Council, for growth and continuing successful regeneration of the estate.
BIGGEST SUCCESS & DOWNTIME
Taekwondo! I took up the martial art in 1978 as something to do while studying quantity surveying at Trent, Nottingham, and passed my black belt in 1981. I became an England and GB international competitor and represented GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. I started teaching inner-city kids in 1984, to try and inspire belief to achieve, and still teach classes in today. In 2020, I was promoted to 8th Degree World Master.
Professionally, I have great pride in driving the success of our Pebble Mill site, from 27 acres of fields and ‘dirt’ in 2008, to the established medical park today; with two hospitals, Circle and the NHS Dental, Bupa care home, Vita student, and our amenity retail and F&B site.
WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE
I live in a village called ‘Nottingham’ and work in a major city called ‘Birmingham’, but would love to see a Nottingham-esq tram and bus system here, especially through the estate along Hagley Road to Quinton.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM
The redevelopment of Paradise Circus, Arena Central, Centenary and Victoria Squares. That vision of Birmingham’s Big City Plan of 2010 now realised is just WORLD CLASS!