Sustainable developer igloo creates new head of construction role as pipeline grows

igloo has appointed long-standing project director James Adams as Head of Construction, marking a new phase of growth for the sustainable developer.

The newly created role has been introduced to strengthen leadership across igloo’s expanding portfolio of sustainable, place-led schemes throughout the UK. James was appointed following a formal recruitment process, having spent the past eight years working alongside igloo’s executive chair Robert Knight.

Robert, who has been with igloo for 20 years and previously led the company’s construction function, is transitioning into a consultancy role where he will continue to advise on key projects, support clients and mentor emerging talent across the business.

As Head of Construction, James will take strategic responsibility for project delivery across igloo’s growing portfolio of developments – overseeing procurement, risk management and delivery performance while supporting teams through increasingly complex market conditions. He will also ensure the company’s People, Place and Planet ethos and sustainable development framework, Footprint®, remain at the forefront of every igloo development. Alongside his tenure at igloo, James also draws from his broader industry experience as a Senior Project Manager at Mace Group and Project Manager for South Downs at the National Trust.

The appointment comes during a period of significant momentum for igloo, following several recent project wins including Festival Gardens in Liverpool, Neepsend in Sheffield, and a pioneering sustainable scheme in partnership with The Crown Estate in Knutsford.

James Adams, head of construction at igloo, said: “This is an important moment for igloo as we continue to expand our development pipeline and deliver increasingly ambitious projects across the UK.  

“Having spent the past eight years working alongside Robert, I’ve learned a huge amount from his leadership, experience and approach. I’m looking forward to building on the strong foundations already in place as we continue into the next phase of growth.”

Robert Knight, executive chair at igloo, added: “It’s been an immense privilege to be part of igloo’s journey over the past 20 years and to help shape the business’ approach to sustainable development and delivery.  

“I’m proud to see James now step into this role. He understands not only the technical and commercial side of delivery, but also the values that underpin everything igloo does. I’m looking forward to continuing to support the team and our projects in a consultancy capacity, while seeing the next generation of leadership take the business forward.”

Peter Connolly, chief executive at igloo, said: “James’ appointment reflects both the strength of talent within igloo and the scale of opportunity ahead of us as our development pipeline continues to grow.  

“This new role has been created to ensure we have the leadership and the expertise in place to support the next phase of the business. James has played a key role in many of our projects over the past eight years, as well as leading on several innovations to our processes. He was, therefore, a standout candidate during the recruitment process and we’re delighted to see him step into this position.”  

‍