From 10 units to 54, supporting a growing SME developer with reliable warranty solutions
Protecting developments today. Powering the communities of tomorrow.
Project Overview
Developer: Olive Homes, an independent SME developer
Location: Chichester
Development: 54-apartment office-to-residential conversion
Growth Impact: Portfolio value increased from £2 million on initial schemes to £11.8 million for the current project.
LBB Consultant: Jack Spear
The relationship began with a 10-unit residential scheme, the first project Olive Homes placed with LBB. This partnership has proven its value through the full project lifecycle; for earlier schemes placed with LBB, our Client Services team successfully issued final certificates this past January, ensuring a smooth close-out for the developer. While relatively modest in size, it marked the start of an ongoing partnership built on trust, responsiveness, and practical problem-solving. As a smaller developer, the Olive Homes team often felt they were being “fobbed off” by larger warranty providers, struggling to get the attention and flexibility they needed.
With LBB, they found a partner that handled the process from start to finish, allowing the developer to focus on building. Following the success of the first scheme, the partnership continued to grow, leading to their largest project to date.
LBB consultant Jack Spear worked with the developer on the 54-apartment conversion in Chichester. This type of project can present additional underwriting complexities, and in this instance, the insurer required a cross-company guarantee. Because the build was being carried out through an SPV, there was no parent company available to provide the guarantee.
Rather than allowing the requirement to stall the project, Jack stepped in to negotiate directly with the insurer. By presenting a clear picture of Olive Homes’ track record and positioning them as a long-term, credible developer, LBB successfully secured:
- A waiver on the cross-company guarantee requirement – allowing the warranty placement to proceed.
- Scaling up – By securing these flexible terms, LBB supported the developer’s growth from an initial £2 million to an £11.8 million sum insured on this development.
- Streamlined underwriting – facilitated by the familiarity between client and broker.
- Proactive problem-solving – keeping the project moving without unnecessary restructuring or delay.
- Full lifecycle support – including end-to-end assistance across the full 10-year policy term.
The result was a successful placement for a complex conversion scheme that supported the developer’s transition into larger-scale projects.
“Working with LBB saves us time and effort; they take care of everything.”
The collaboration between Olive Homes and LBB demonstrates how the right broker relationship supports a developer’s growth. By managing the administrative burden from negotiating complex cross-company guarantees to the final issuance of certificates, LBB provides the responsive advice and full lifecycle support that allows the Olive Homes team to remain focused on their core construction goals. Through this partnership, LBB continues to help them deliver new residential schemes with confidence.
This case study is intended for professional clients and does not constitute personal advice or a financial promotion to retail customers.
The London Belgravia Group Provides Risk and Insurance Advisory Solutions to Global Property Developers. London Belgravia Brokers Ltd, t/a LBB, is an appointed representative of Ten Insurance Services Ltd t/a Eleven Network, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
