‘Five Minutes With’ returns. A series spotlighting the people shaping Native Land’s developments, and the thinking that drives them.

This time, we speak with Phil Haddleton, who leads the delivery of Native Land’s commercial portfolio. Phil has over 14 years’ experience in central London real estate, from repositioning assets to delivering best-in-class buildings, having specialised in investment, development and leasing in previous roles.

Now overseeing key commercial projects including Arbor, KOVA KX and SIRA, Phil shares his insights on evolving market dynamics, shifting occupier expectations, and what it takes to create commercial spaces that meet changing occupier needs.

Read on for Phil’s perspective on how the commercial landscape is changing – and how Native Land is responding.

1. You’ve built a career repositioning central London office assets. What inspired your move to Native Land, and how does the new role align with your vision for commercial development?

Native Land has a superb reputation as one of the UK’s leading developers, known for its design excellence, sustainability, and hospitality-led approach. What really stood out to me was how entrepreneurial and nimble the business is, which I find especially important in today’s fast-changing market, while also benefiting from a broad international investor base.

With my background in real estate investment management and development, I saw a compelling opportunity to build on Native Land’s achievements and help grow a market-leading commercial brand.

2. Native Land’s landmark adaptive reuse development at KOVA KX recently made headlines with the UK’s largest life sciences letting of 2025 and London’s largest since 2022. How does this milestone reflect changing occupier demand? And where do you see the greatest opportunities in the life sciences and mixed-use sectors going forward?

Location, location, location. It remains a key factor for occupiers, and that’s especially true in the life sciences sector. When Native Land acquired 105 Judd Street, which we later rebranded as KOVA KX, it was a strategic decision. The site is in a prime spot at the heart of the Knowledge Quarter, close to King’s Cross and the Francis Crick Institute. Life sciences occupiers look for excellent transport links, proximity to industry peers, and buildings that support their sustainability targets, offer flexibility, and are designed for wellbeing. KOVA KX delivers on all these fronts, and from that perspective is unparalleled in London, and so its leasing success is no surprise.

We’re also seeing more opportunities in mixed-use environments that combine workspace with lifestyle amenities in well-connected locations. Places like King’s Cross and Bankside are particularly well-suited to support this kind of integrated development.

3. Native Land has a reputation for delivering best-in-class buildings. What do you think are the key ingredients for keeping its commercial portfolio aligned with evolving workplace needs, while maintaining the design and sustainability standards Native Land is known for?

From the outset, we focus on creating adaptable and sustainable spaces that are functional, future-proofed, and inspiring to live or work in. These principles apply across all sectors.

We also put a lot of emphasis on staying ahead of the curve through research. That means staying close to occupiers and understanding the local market to guide our strategy. We work closely with business partners, including leading architects and engineers, to keep up with the latest design trends and best practice.

We look both domestically and internationally for case studies and lessons. This helps us make sure our product is truly world-class. There are some highly innovative buildings in mature markets like London and New York, but we also learn from innovative cities like Copenhagen and Sydney. We ask: Are there new materials that reduce embodied carbon or improve operational efficiency? Are there amenities that attract the best tenants? Is there a community feature that has made a real impact? This continuous learning ensures our developments continue to meet the highest standards and respond to what occupiers genuinely value.

4. Looking ahead, what are your immediate priorities for Native Land’s commercial developments and where do you see the greatest potential for growth?

We have a very active portfolio that spans all development stages. In the short term, our priorities include securing planning consents, completing construction, and closing leases.

We’re also focused on strengthening partnerships with new and existing like-minded investors. That means sourcing and delivering new projects in London and across the UK. We see real value in our ability to navigate complexity, especially in situations that others might shy away from. That’s one of our greatest competitive strengths and a key selling point.

While we prefer to act as both developer and co-investor alongside our partners, we increasingly provide consultancy services to owners seeking to reposition existing assets.

Many older generation buildings no longer meet current standards and expectations, and we are well placed to work with owners to upgrade these assets and maximise their value. That is definitely going to be a growth area for the commercial side of our business. At the same time, our mixed-use expertise gives us a competitive advantage where a change of use might be the right solution.

5. What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d received when starting out in property – and would now pass on to someone entering the industry today?

Get breadth as well as depth of experience. Property is multidisciplinary, so it’s important to avoid being “pigeonholed” early on. Try to gain exposure to as many sub-sectors and sub-disciplines as possible. The most impressive property professionals I’ve known are generalists. They’re just as comfortable reviewing financial models as they are leading design teams and marketing campaigns, or presenting to investors and stakeholders. That versatility is especially valuable in today’s dynamic market. Also, ask questions and learn from those around you. There’s no substitute for experience, but learning from others’ mistakes so you can avoid making them yourself is invaluable.