Comer Group

Luke and Brian Comer were plasterers from County Galway, Ireland, who moved to London in 1984 and expanded into property development.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecomergroup.com/history|title=History|work=The Comer Group|access-date=28 September 2023}} They set up the first of their many property development companies in 1985.{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/QNq7tHp2kVP9cekWQlYOtW-dZIE/appointments|title=Luke Andrew Comer|work=Companies House|access-date=28 September 2023}} Comer Group Limited was incorporated in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04797639|title=Comer Group Limited|work=Companies House|access-date=28 September 2023}}

The growth of the brothers' business in Ireland was helped by investments in stalled 'Celtic Tiger' developments and buying up heavily discounted properties.{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Madeliene |title=Luke Comer on a €400 million Irish property spending spree |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/luke-comer-on-a-400-million-irish-property-spending-spree-1.2125708 |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=The Irish Times |date=5 March 2015}} By May 2023, the brothers were running a property portfolio with an estimated value of over €1 billion.{{cite news |last1=Woods |first1=Killian |title=Comer brothers property portfolio now worth €1.16bn |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/news/comer-brothers-property-portfolio-now-worth-e1-16bn/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Business Post |date=28 May 2023}}

The companies' UK projects included the conversion of the listed Friern Hospital (formerly Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum) to residential accommodation in the mid-1990s as Princess Park Manor,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/house-and-home/the-new-cast-of-neighbours-why-the-bling-brigade-is-flocking-to-a-former-asylum-in-north-london-7546090.html|title=The new cast of neighbours: Why the bling brigade is flocking to a former asylum in north London|date=9 March 2012|work=The Independent}} redevelopment of the former Royal Masonic School for Boys in Bushey, Hertfordshire as Royal Connaught Park,{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomergroup.com/development/royal-connaught-park|title=Royal Connaught Park|work=The Comer Group|access-date=28 September 2023}} a housing development in Portland, Dorset,{{cite news |last1=Lea |first1=Martin |title=Next phase of Ocean Views development at Castletown on Portland unveiled |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/16696597.next-phase-ocean-views-development-castletown-portland-unveiled/ |work=Dorset Echo |date=8 September 2018}} and a proposed conversion of a former office block in Southend into residential apartments.{{Cite web |date=16 August 2023 |title=Huge step forward for 557-homes plan at landmark Southend office block |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23725344.alexander-house-homes-plan-southend-moves-forward/ |work=Echo}} In Ireland, Comer projects include redevelopment of the University College Dublin veterinary college in Ballsbridge, redevelopment of the Corrib Great Southern Hotel in Galway,{{cite news |last1=Woods |first1=Killian |title=Condition of properties owned by Comer brothers raises questions |url=https://www.businesspost.ie/news-focus/condition-of-properties-owned-by-comer-brothers-raises-questions/|work=Business Post |date=17 October 2021}} completion of a partly-built tower block, the Sentinel, in the Sandyford district of Dublin,{{cite news |last1=Faithfull |first1=Mark |title=Residential Plans Finally Progress For Carcass Of Half-Finished Dublin Tower |url=https://www.bisnow.com/dublin/news/affordable-housing/residential-plans-finally-progress-for-blot-on-dublin-landscape-118644 |work=Bisnow |date=24 April 2023}} and redevelopment of an apartment block in Ballysadare, County Sligo.

In July 2023, Comer launched an affordable home division, Dovepark Properties, to manage and maintain units across the group's UK residential developments.{{cite news |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Rory |title=Comer Homes launches dedicated affordable homes division |url=https://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/comer-homes-launches-dedicated-affordable-homes-division/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=ShowHouse |date=20 July 2023}}

In September 2023, Comer Homes Group was ordered to demolish a build-to-rent development at Mast Quay in the Woolwich Dockyard area of southeast London. The second phase of Mast Quay, east of phase 1 (and adjacent to the Woolwich Ferry carpark), was completed in late 2022 and comprised towers of 23, 11, nine and six storeys, but differed markedly from what had originally been proposed. Comer proposed revisions to the design in December 2022 when construction was nearly finished.{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Joe |title=Developers could be forced to change 'eyesore' South London tower block |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/developers-could-forced-change-eyesore-26265721 |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=MyLondon |date=17 February 2023}} However, the build-to-rent development had "26 main deviations to the original planning permission" granted in 2012, and in September 2023, Greenwich Council ordered Comer Homes to demolish the blocks.{{cite news |last1=Booth |first1=Robert |title=London apartment block that deviates from plans must be torn down, says council |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2023/sep/27/london-apartment-block-that-deviates-from-plans-must-be-torn-down-says-council |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Guardian |date=27 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=Council orders developer to tear down tower blocks |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/09/27/council-orders-developer-to-tear-down-tower-blocks/ |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=27 September 2023}} Comer appealed against the enforcement notice.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=James |title=Woolwich: Developers ordered to demolish 'mutant' apartment blocks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66934296 |access-date=27 September 2023 |work=BBC News |date=27 September 2023}} A planning inquiry was opened in July 2024.{{cite news |last1=Banks |first1=Charlotte |title=Developer blames post-Grenfell reforms for tower planning breaches |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/building-safety/developer-blames-post-grenfell-reforms-for-tower-planning-breaches-25-07-2024/ |access-date=9 September 2024 |work=Construction News |date=25 July 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Joe |title=Mast Quay Phase II residents want block plans scrapped |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24475529.mast-quay-phase-ii-residents-want-block-plans-scrapped/ |access-date=16 September 2024 |work=News Shopper |date=29 July 2024}} In January 2025, the Planning Inspectorate upheld 11 out of the council's 26 objections. The demolition order was conditionally revoked, with Comer given three years to fix issues at the development and ordered to pay £4.4m towards affordable housing, and £2.3m in community infrastructure levy payments. The firm was ordered to replace "visually intrusive" orange cladding, provide promised accessibility features, undertake fire safety work and make public realm improvements at the base of the buildings.{{cite news |last1=Lowe |first1=Tom |title=Greenwich tower scheme handed demolition order can stay with design changes, Planning Inspectorate rules |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/greenwich-tower-scheme-handed-demolition-order-can-stay-with-design-changes-planning-inspectorate-rules/5133745.article |access-date=10 January 2025 |work=Building |date=10 January 2025}} Comer Homes accepted the original scheme had not been lawfully implemented and that the existing buildings did not have planning permission; revised planning permission was issued.{{cite news |last1=Coughlan |first1=Joe |title=Woolwich tower blocks no longer to be demolished |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g3vzdzz8lo |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=BBC News |date=11 January 2025}} The demolition order was upheld as an 'ultimate sanction' if the conditions are not met.{{cite news |last1=Highfield |first1=Anna |title=‘Unlawful’ Woolwich tower can stay if orange cladding is removed |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/unlawful-woolwich-tower-can-stay-if-orange-cladding-is-removed |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=Architects' Journal |date=13 January 2025}}

Cavalier House, 46-50 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W6.jpg|Cavalier House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5.

Comer Crescent 15 Oct 2015 03.JPG|Comer Crescent, Southall, UB2.

Friern Hospital 05.jpg|Friern Hospital, New Southgate.

Platinum House flats, Lyon Road, Harrow - geograph.org.uk - 98957.jpg|Platinum House, Harrow.

Unfinished Apartment Tower Block closeup Sandyford Dublin Ireland Oct2012.JPG|'The Sentinel' - an unfinished apartment tower in Sandyford, Dublin, acquired by the Comer Group

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{{commons category|Comer Group}}

• [http://www.thecomergroup.com/ Official website.]

Category:Property companies based in London

Category:Irish companies established in 1971