HARWORTH Group has appointed a new regional director for the north west.

Steven Knowles has joined Harworth from St Modwen Properties Plc and will be developing the company's Logistics North site in Over Hulton.

Mr Knowles' appointment is one of three regional positions Harworth has filled as it gears towards future growth.

Owen Michaelson, chief executive officer, said: "The strategic evolution of the business and our expected activities going forward means that the move towards a regional structure is essential for the business and I am absolutely delighted with each of these new appointments.

"Each regional team will be responsible for the acquisition, promotion and development of all sites in their region, and building the local networks and relationships which are an essential element of the new business model.

"We believe that this will generate greater management cohesion between the acquisition and delivery functions and allow each regional team to become embedded in their respective local market, further increasing the profile of the business and supporting our efforts to secure further developable land and property to grow the business in a sustainable manner.”

Mr Knowles has already made his first acquisition as regional director, with the purchase in October of the 56-acre Moss Nook site in St Helens that has an outline planning consent for 900 new homes.

He will also be responsible for purchasing new strategic sites in the north west.

David Cockroft has been appointed regional director for the Midlands from his position at Coventry City Council and Peter Henry has been promoted to cover the Central region, Harworth's largest area. Mr Henry previously worked as the company's director of development.