Land and Property Director Simon Marner Celebrates 20 Years with City & Country

From negotiating property deals to being part of the team responsible for the restoration of historic buildings, Simon has spent the past 20 years at the heart of City & Country’s growth and development.

Looking back on the past 20 years, Simon says that it has been a privilege to be involved in identifying, buying and developing the unique and historically important schemes that City & Country have worked on and being part of the journey. He names Donaldsons and the King Edward VII Estate as two of his favourite projects, although there are many more that are equally as memorable. He said: “What helps City & Country stand out is its willingness to take on extraordinary sites, often with fascinating historical backstories, and its focus on a continuous drive for excellence throughout the business in delivering what are extremely challenging and complex projects.”

For Simon, these projects encompass City & Country’s ethos in respecting heritage while creating homes adapted to modern living: “Not many developments come with more than a century of history already built into their foundations.”

When Simon had initially joined City & Country in 1995, the business looked very different. At the time, he was one of just six employees.

Starting as Land and Property Manager, over the years he became involved in a wide range of areas across the business, including land acquisition, property management and sales and marketing. Initially responsible for managing the company's commercial property portfolio, Simon played an important role in the sale of those assets, helping to generate investment for new residential development opportunities, which gradually grew in scale over time.

After a brief two-year stint working for a firm of chartered surveyor, Simon returned to City & Country in 2006 to help identify new development opportunities, get involved with more commercial deals and support the property management function.

Since then, he has continued to progress through the business, becoming Associate Director in 2016 before being appointed Land and Property Director in 2019.

“I particularly enjoy working for C&C, which still retains the feel of a family business where you can and are recognised for making a difference, as well as working on extraordinary projects.

Whether working on significant heritage sites or the smaller barn conversion schemes that were a favourite for the business in the late 1990’s, Simon is motivated by the same principles. Twenty years on, he remains passionate about finding new opportunities while respecting the character that makes a place unique. This has helped him excel in his role as Land and Property Director.

With several exciting projects progressing across the business, including the recently acquired former Legal & General site in Kingswood, Surrey, there is no shortage of opportunities to get stuck into. The development will see the transformation of a Grade II* listed building into a mixed-use development featuring homes, commercial space and landscaped gardens. Having helped secure the site, Simon continues to play an important role in shaping its future.

Aside from the projects, Simon’s personal contribution to the team has been invaluable. He shares: “City & Country is a family business, not a faceless, corporate organisation. You can talk to everyone, and the leadership team works well together. Having worked here for over two decades, I’ve built up a lot of knowledge and experience over that time, which means I can support colleagues across the businessthe business”.

“Property is a challenging industry to be in – it always has been, and it always will be. That is what makes it so interesting and compelling. An easy life is a boring life!”

As Simon celebrates his 20th anniversary, City & Country extends its thanks for his invaluable contribution to the firm. From being one of six employees, to leading teams and shaping projects, Simon’s successful journey reflects both his dedication to the job and the collaborative culture at City & Country.

Long-serving team members like Simon are a testament to the strong relationships, welcoming environment and shared values at City & Country.