The SPR Origination Team are the first step in your project journey with us. We are here to talk you through the project process, establish the viability of your development opportunity and take you through the initial site securing stages. We have a vast experience within the team across land and development planning and are here to make this initial stage as seamless as possible.
To discuss your land opportunity, please get in touch.
Team Members
Our Origination team has decades of combined experience and qualifications across renewables development, rural land management, biodiversity and the environment, agriculture and more. Find out more about their individual areas of focus and how to get in touch with each below:
David Buchanan
Head of Origination
David has worked in Development with SPR for over 10 years and previously many years in consultancy. David has had a hand in securing over 500 MW of consented projects during his time with SPR. David leads the Origination Team Lead.
David holds a BSc in Product Design and an MSc in Renewable Energy.
Matthew Imrie
Origination Project Manager
Matt is a MRICS Chartered Surveyor with an MSc in Land Economy. He has 7 years’ experience in rural land management, as well as first-hand experience managing and diversifying agricultural holdings through his family’s farm on the outskirts of Glasgow.
Matt’s ability to consider development opportunities from both sides provides an invaluable level of knowledge and insight to the Team, and has developed a strong knowledge base on Compensatory Planting Schemes since joining SPR in 2022.
Speak to Matt about enquiries in: Compensatory tree planting and Biodiversity net gain land opportunities. And; Renewable energy opportunities in Northeast Scotland, Northeast England, Irish Republic.
Robin Stewart
Origination Project Manager
Robin has six years' experience across the environmental, legal, and renewable energy sector. Robin has an undergraduate degree in Politics, and a masters in City and Regional Planning.
Robin worked in SPR’s Onshore Development Team, managing onshore wind projects at various stages of the development process. Since moving to Origination Robin brings in depth expertise in project feasibility.
Speak to Robin about enquiries in: Eastern & Southeast Scotland, Southeast England, Northern Ireland
John Sherwood
Origination Project Manager
John has over 15 years’ experience in UK and Ireland wide land and property roles. John brings his broad experience and depth of knowledge to the renewables sector. John has a degree (MA Hons) in History and a postgraduate degree (MSc) in Real Estate Management and Development (RICS accredited).
Speak to John about enquiries in: Northwest and Highland Scotland, Northwest England & Wales.
Paul O’Brien
Origination Project Manager
Paul is a fully Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) and has worked as a Planner in both the Private and Public sector for 16 years covering both the UK and Ireland.
Since joining SPR in 2023, Paul has specialised in expert assessment of development consent risk though feasibility studies, and guiding landowners through the process of hosting renewable energy projects on their land.
Paul graduated with a BA (Hons) from University College Cork and an MSC in Urban and Regional Planning from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.
Speak to Paul about enquiries in: Lanarkshire and South West Scotland, English Midlands and South West England.