Meet the team
Meet our team
The One Horton Heath Team is a dedicated project team with vast industry experience and a range of backgrounds. View their profiles, roles and responsibilities.
Oliver Wood
Head of Technical
Oliver is the Head of Technical at Eastleigh Borough Council, leading an ambitious housing delivery programme that will bring forward 2,500 new homes, a new school, and a local commercial centre. His leadership is central to ensuring the quality, sustainability, and successful delivery of this major development.
With a background in private architectural practice, Oliver previously led the housing discipline at a national firm, delivering residential projects from inception through to completion. His experience covers every stage of the development lifecycle, combining design integrity, technical rigour, and practical delivery know-how within the public sector.
An award-winning architect with a sharp eye for detail and deep technical knowledge, Oliver is passionate about creating places that work for communities today and for generations to come. His blend of creative vision and technical leadership ensures that Eastleigh’s housing programme is both ambitious and deliverable, setting a new benchmark for high-quality development in the region.
Peter Swift
Head of commercial
Peter brings a wealth of experience across multiple sectors within the construction industry, gained through his time in consultancy, contracting, and development. His portfolio spans everything from small refurbishment projects to major multi-phase housing developments and even new cruise terminals. Passionate about construction, Peter thrives on the fact that no two days are ever the same, with each project presenting a new challenge to solve.
As part of the Commercial Team, Peter plays a key role in risk management and reporting, helping ensure that informed decisions are made at the right time. His personal goal is to build high-performing teams with robust commercial approaches that stay focused and deliver results.
Outside of work, Peter enjoys spending time with his family and being out on the water – whether paddle boarding, sailing, or surfing.
Paul Phillips
Head of Delivery
With over three decades of experience in the construction industry, Paul leads the Building Construction programme at Eastleigh Borough Council, overseeing the delivery of high-quality, sustainable housing and civic infrastructure, including OHH’s new school. His leadership brings together strong technical delivery, practical buildability, and a clear commitment to creating lasting value for local communities.
Paul has worked across every stage of the construction process, combining technical expertise with an in-depth understanding of design, regulation, and project management. His collaborative approach and attention to detail ensure that projects are delivered efficiently, safely, and to the highest standards.
Outside of work, Paul enjoys travelling and watching football, supporting Liverpool FC.
Sean McDonagh
Construction Manager
Sean was introduced to the construction industry over 20 years ago, starting out as a self-employed foreman on small build projects. After graduating from Solent University in 2014 with an HNC in Construction Management, he progressed to larger-scale residential developments, joining Bovis Homes to gain experience across a range of new-build projects.
From Truro in Cornwall to Botley in Eastleigh, Sean has managed numerous new-build sites as a Site Manager. Before joining the One Horton Heath team, he worked as a Contract Manager for Captiva Homes on the Isle of Wight, where he continues to live.
A keen outdoor enthusiast, Sean makes the most of island life through surfing, kayaking, and walking, embracing the coastal lifestyle whenever he can.
Paul Spreyer
Infrastructure Contracts Manager
Paul is the Infrastructure Contracts Manager at OHH. With 25 years of experience in the construction industry, he began his career in the Education and Refurbishment sector before moving into Residential construction. One of his most notable projects was the Sir Phillip Game Centre in Addiscombe, Croydon, where he oversaw the construction of a new youth centre with a dedicated Judo Hall. Outside of work, Paul enjoys life in Emsworth with his wife, Tracy, and can often be found walking along the local estuaries.
Shaun Harkin
Technical Manager
Shaun brings over 25 years of experience in the built environment, including 10 years with housing developers across the South and more than 15 years in design practices and contract administration. His broad background spans both residential and infrastructure projects, including the award-winning, sustainability-led Graylingwell Park development.
At One Horton Heath, Shaun draws on his technical expertise to contribute to a range of projects as Technical Manager, helping ensure the delivery of high-quality, well-designed homes and infrastructure.
Outside of work, Shaun is a former Fastnet race competitor and now enjoys Formula One, mountain biking around Hampshire, and watching films. He’s also a first aider for his son’s under-14 rugby team.
With an eye for detail and a passion for doing the right thing in development, Peter is committed to ensuring every scheme complements its surroundings while keeping the end user in mind. At One Horton Heath, his role spans managing the detailed design and delivery process of the first new homes and leading on highway infrastructure delivery – from planning through to construction – including off-site junction improvements and the main civil engineering works across the site.
Outside of work, Peter enjoys spending time with his young family exploring the countryside near their home.
Ziyad Thomas
Senior Development Planning Manager
Ziyad has over 15 years’ experience as a town planner and has been a Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2010. Recognising the increased importance of financial viability in development and plan making, he joined the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors becoming Chartered in 2022. While he has experience in both the public and private sectors, he has predominantly worked in-house for housebuilders and has developed a significant level of expertise with specialist older persons’ accommodation in particular.
In his role as Senior Planning Manager, Ziyad will be assisting in the development and implementation of a site-wide planning strategy for One Horton Heath.
In his spare time Ziyad enjoys both listening to and playing music, travel and helping his children explore the countryside.
Neil White
Development Planning Manager
Neil has 25 years of experience in the development industry, with a background spanning building surveying, construction, architecture, and planning. Having worked across a wide range of development sectors – from extra care to commercial – he brings a strong knowledge base in development delivery.
Before joining One Horton Heath, Neil worked at Vistry Group, managing sites from land acquisition through to start on site. He is passionate about progressing the One Horton Heath development to deliver high-quality family homes and help create a thriving community for future generations.
Outside of work, Neil spends his free time coaching his son’s football team or playing badminton with his daughter. His adventurous side also sees him snowboarding or getting out on the bike when he can, as well as enjoying the outdoors with friends and family.
Stephen Andrews
Development Planner
Stephen is our Development Planner, providing planning support and advice to the Technical Team. He takes the lead on planning variation applications, discharge of conditions, and legal variations needed to deliver the Lower Acre development on time and within all planning requirements.
With over 20 years of experience in development planning across both the public and private sectors, Stephen brings a wealth of planning knowledge and expertise to the team, helping to ensure the project progresses smoothly and compliantly.
Outside of work, Stephen enjoys spending time with friends and family and can often be found competing with his wife and son at mini-golf – though he admits the competition is fierce!
Sophie Ponsford
Contract Surveyor
With a career in construction that began in 2006, Sophie brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience and commercial insight to the industry. In 2014, while working full-time, she transitioned into a commercial role and earned an MSc in Quantity Surveying, demonstrating her dedication and drive.
Sophie’s experience spans a wide range of residential developments – from high-end new build apartments in London to essential repair works on council housing. With a meticulous eye for detail, she excels in procurement, contract management, and cost control, consistently delivering value across complex projects.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending quality time with her young son, getting lost in a good book, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Emily Whitley
Ecologist
Emily joined the team in March 2024, taking on the role of coordinating ecology requirements across each parcel and the entire site. Her background includes a degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, followed by a Masters in Biological Recording. Over the course of more than 10 years in the private sector, Emily conducted ecology surveys and collaborated with clients to produce comprehensive reports and strategies. Her survey work encompassed a range of species, including Dormice, bats, Great Crested Newts, reptiles, and Badgers.
Outside of work, Emily treasures spending quality time with her family. On rare occasions, she indulges in playing underwater hockey, a unique and invigorating pastime.
Emma Fitsell
Project Coordinator
As Project Coordinator, Emma provides administrative and functional support across the Project Delivery Team, assisting with the preparation of action plans, budgets, and reports that keep the project running smoothly. In her role as Document Controller, she manages and controls the flow of construction documents, monitors submission deadlines, and ensures full compliance with document control procedures and construction standards.
With a focus on organisation and attention to detail, Emma plays a key role in helping the team deliver work efficiently and accurately.
Outside of work, Emma loves travelling with her family, aiming to tick off as many countries as possible – when she’s not busy renovating her new home.
Emma Jones
Project Coordinator
With a background spanning higher education, IT, HVAC, and landscaping, Emma brings a broad range of experience to the One Horton Heath project. Over the past six years, she has been a key factor in keeping everything moving smoothly behind the scenes.
Emma holds a PRINCE2 qualification in Project Management, enabling her to plan thoroughly, manage risks, and steer progress with clarity. She takes charge of managing schedules, tracking progress, and making sure everyone has what they need – whether that’s information, resources, or coordination between teams.
Outside of work, Emma is kept on her toes by her two little ones under five, and when she finds a rare moment of free time, she enjoys getting creative with sewing and baking and has a passion for all things natural.
Jenny Coles
Senior Communications Officer
Jenny is a dedicated Senior Communications Officer with over a decade of experience in marketing and communications, organising national events, managing dynamic campaigns, creating engaging content, including podcasts and videos and curating the local ‘Borough News’. Since joining the council in 2023, and moving to the One Horton Heath Team in 2024, Jenny has brought her passion for effective communication and delivering impactful messaging that resonates with the community. Beyond work-life, Jenny enjoys quality time with her son, partner, and two beloved sausage dogs, listening to music, hitting the gym, and socialising with friends over good food and drink.