Muse, the UK-based property developer, has expanded its North West regional team with six new appointments, the company announced on Thursday. The hires include an experienced project director, two senior project managers, two assistant project managers and a graduate development manager.
New senior appointments and experience
James Alderson joins Muse as project director. The company said Alderson brings more than 37 years’ experience in the built environment sector and most recently served as project director on the £120m Stopford Park regeneration in Stockport. His earlier roles included senior positions with Cityheart, Investar Property Group, Mulbury, Arcadis and Grosvenor.
Nathan Chase and Nick Self have been appointed senior project managers. Muse said Chase is returning to the business after a spell away and most recently led major capital investment projects for MBDA UK. Self has more than a decade of experience in the property industry and most recently worked for the Peabody Group in London, where he was involved in delivering hundreds of new homes in Thamesmead.
Support roles and graduate development
At assistant project manager level, Muse has appointed Ben Taylor and Jake Hall. Taylor joins from Renaker while Hall moved from Scarborough Group International.
The company has also hired Jokotola Adenuga as graduate development manager. Adenuga secured a first-class honours degree in urban planning and real estate from University College London, according to Muse.
“Bringing so many new team members on board strengthens our ability to deliver for the communities we are supporting and enhancing right across the region,”
Muse’s North West managing director, Phil Marsden, said the new appointments would complement existing talent and support the delivery of “transformational places throughout the north west.” The company added that as its portfolio grows, attracting staff with the right skills and values remains a priority.
What the hires mean for communities
The appointments underline Muse’s emphasis on capacity for delivery in a region where local regeneration schemes and housing programmes have been central to economic and social renewal. The firm highlighted prior experience on sizeable projects — notably the Stopford Park scheme — as part of the credentials new staff bring to the team.
While these appointments are in the UK North West, the developments highlight two themes relevant to local government and communities elsewhere:
- Experienced leadership on complex regeneration schemes can accelerate practical delivery and support community benefits.
- Recruiting early-career professionals, like graduate development managers, ensures succession and the transfer of technical skills into future projects.
Recruitment profile at a glance
| Role | Name | Most recent employer / background |
|---|---|---|
| Project director | James Alderson | Project director on £120m Stopford Park regeneration; previous roles at Cityheart, Investar, Mulbury, Arcadis, Grosvenor |
| Senior project manager | Nathan Chase | Returned to Muse; most recently led capital projects for MBDA UK |
| Senior project manager | Nick Self | Peabody Group; delivered homes in Thamesmead |
| Assistant project manager | Ben Taylor | Renaker |
| Assistant project manager | Jake Hall | Scarborough Group International |
| Graduate development manager | Jokotola Adenuga | First-class honours in urban planning and real estate, UCL |
For local stakeholders — councils, housing associations and community groups — the shift indicates Muse is preparing to manage a broader workload across the North West. The company framed the recruitment drive as a way to ensure it can “continue creating places that make a lasting difference to communities.”
Implications for skills and local employment
The blend of senior hires and a graduate appointment points to an approach that couples experienced leadership with development of junior professionals. For municipalities and training providers, such private-sector recruitment signals ongoing demand for construction, planning and project-management skills.
While Muse’s statement relates to its UK operations, the model — pairing seasoned project directors with mid-level managers and graduate talent — is a common structure in large-scale regeneration delivery. It is a reminder to local authorities and labour organisations to prioritise skills pipelines so communities can benefit from both jobs and completed infrastructure.
As Muse grows its North West portfolio, the appointments aim to give the developer the capacity to take on and deliver complex schemes that rely on experienced teams and robust project management.
