People Spotlight: Meet Ameet Singh Heir
Our People Spotlight series gives you an inside look at our technical experts around the world. This week, we’re featuring Ameet Singh Heir, Regional Director based in our Birmingham office and Head of Residential Sector in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Ameet leads our residential sector across the UK&I, collaborating with teams in project management, cost management, engineering and sustainability to deliver a wide range of residential projects that truly make a difference. Working with our clients across a range of residential asset classes, including housing, strategic land, later living, student accommodation, open market, build to rent, co-living, affordable, social, urban regeneration and city centre high-rise towers, his focus is on creating places that are practical, sustainable and built to last.
With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Ameet has led major residential and regeneration projects from concept to completion. His leadership approach combines commercial understanding with a strong commitment to quality, teamwork and doing things the right way, values he sees as essential to shaping the future of housing delivery.
Tell us about what inspired you to join the industry.
I grew up in a thriving region where development and opportunity were part of everyday life. From an early age, I was fascinated by how cities grow and evolve. That curiosity was fuelled further through international travel — visiting New York, San Francisco and Hong Kong — and gave me firsthand insight into how ambitious construction and planning can transform communities. Those experiences inspired my ambition to be part of shaping the built environment.
Academically, I had strengths in both numbers and literature. This naturally led me toward quantity surveying, contracts and procurement, disciplines that blend structure, logic and communication. Over time, that evolved into a passion for project management and delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects that bring teams together to achieve shared goals.
I’ve always felt a strong connection to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the professionalism it represents. I take pride in upholding traditional values of accuracy, integrity and accountability. For me, success is as much about how we deliver projects as what we deliver.
Academically, I had strengths in both numbers and literature. This naturally led me toward quantity surveying, contracts and procurement, disciplines that blend structure, logic and communication.
What are the biggest issues currently facing the residential sector?
The residential sector continues to face a series of evolving pressures that affect both project viability and delivery.
Viability remains a key consideration, shaped by the cost of finance and rising labour, material and plant costs. Together, these influence scheme viability and investment confidence, particularly in higher-cost markets.
Planning processes also continue to extend project timelines, requiring early coordination and realistic programming to maintain momentum. In addition, the implementation of the Building Safety Act has introduced new stages and requirements that form an important part of ensuring safe design and construction. While essential for compliance, these processes, including updated design measures such as second staircases and Gateway 2 reviews, can add time to project programmes and require proactive management across all parties.
Another key factor is the skills shortage across the UK construction industry, which continues to impact delivery capacity. This has encouraged the sector to think more innovatively about how we design and build, exploring new methods to increase efficiency, consistency and quality. I have been involved in several projects adopting modern methods of construction, which not only help to address resource challenges but also drive improved sustainability outcomes and predictability in delivery. By constantly challenging design and embracing innovation, we can unlock real value for clients and create more resilient project models for the future.
Finally, sustainability continues to drive change. Clients and developers are setting ambitious goals around carbon reduction, circular economy principles and social value. Balancing these aspirations with cost and delivery pressures requires innovation, collaboration and strong technical leadership across every stage of development.
Another key factor is the skills shortage across the UK construction industry, which continues to impact delivery capacity. This has encouraged the sector to think more innovatively about how we design and build, exploring new methods to increase efficiency, consistency and quality.
Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work on a range of projects that have brought lasting benefit to local communities, from housing and regeneration to specialist living and even the London 2012 Olympics, which has left a distinct legacy.
A particular area I’m passionate about is later living, having delivered several large retirement village developments designed to connect senior residents to their local communities through place, amenities and shared outdoor spaces. These projects provide environments where people can live independently while remaining active, engaged and connected to others, something that has a real social impact beyond the buildings themselves.
I’ve also been involved in several student accommodation campus and apartment build to rent projects, which have helped define a new generation of living. By integrating amenities such as music studios, cafés, shared lounges and landscaped public realm, these developments have created communities and enhanced the student and professional experience.
Most recently, I’ve worked on the Smithfield Birmingham masterplan with Lendlease, a landmark regeneration project at the heart of the city. Achieving planning consent for this major scheme was a significant milestone, paving the way to transform underused land into a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood. With construction now progressing into the build-out phases, it’s exciting to see that vision becoming a reality.
Across all these projects, the unifying theme is collaboration, working with clients, local authorities and residents to deliver places that have a positive and enduring impact on people’s lives.
A particular area I’m passionate about is later living, having delivered several large retirement village developments designed to connect senior residents to their local communities through place, amenities and shared outdoor spaces. These projects provide environments where people can live independently while remaining active, engaged and connected to others, something that has a real social impact beyond the buildings themselves.
Share a piece of career advice.
My advice to anyone in this industry is to stay engaged, open-minded and reflective. Every project, conversation or client interaction offers a chance to learn something new. Even the small moments can teach you how to communicate, adapt or solve problems more effectively.
Seek out hands-on experience early in your career. Spending time on site builds a real understanding of how projects are delivered and gives you confidence in your decision making.
Take every opportunity to gain early exposure and learn from senior professionals. Sit alongside partners and directors, observe how they think, lead and build relationships. Those lessons in judgement and communication are invaluable.
Take pride in your work, whatever the task may be. The quality of your outputs, from reports to presentations, reflects your professionalism. Always take a client-first approach, pausing to understand the world from their perspective.
Equally important is developing strong people skills. You’ll work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and cultures, both locally and internationally. Being able to connect, communicate and collaborate effectively is at the heart of successful project delivery.
And above all, enjoy what you do. When you’re genuinely passionate about your work, that enthusiasm shines through in the outcomes you deliver and the teams you lead. Passion is what sustains a career in construction and what makes it so rewarding.