Beth Dixon MRICS is a dynamic Land Manager, on a mission to secure prime development sites across Hampshire and West Sussex.

From snapping up ready-to-go locations with planning permission to navigating the complex process of long-term strategic promotions that could take a decade to come to fruition, her role is anything but predictable. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, keeping things fresh and exciting.

Beth is an integral part of the Land & Planning Team, a close-knit group of four led by David Cracklen, working collaboratively to drive projects forward. She operates from the Lilliput office.

What is one valuable thing you’ve learned in your career so far?

That the world is constantly evolving and so should we. Particularly at the moment, with major reforms to the planning system, it is important to me that I am always learning.

What’s your work background? 

I am a Chartered Surveyor with a degree in Real Estate from the Royal Agricultural University. Before joining AJC Group, I spent five years at Savills, working with landowners to maximise their development potential.

What do you love about your role? 

I am excited to see my first project brought to life and know that we are providing much-needed housing for local families!

What are your key topics/areas of the business that you focus on? 

I am tasked with securing new sites across Hampshire and West Sussex. That could be sites which already have planning permission, or land which we will promote through the Local Plan and secure planning permission ourselves.

What was your first ever job? 

Throughout university, I was the Marketing Executive for a company which sold wood chippers and stump grinders, meaning I have a lot of useless knowledge about arboricultural machinery!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A Doctor. My Mum was an A&E nurse for 40 years, so I grew up watching Casualty and became accustomed to gory stories around the dinner table. I even did a few medical placements whilst at school, but it turns out Chemistry is not my strong suit!

What is your favourite sport/team?

I am a new F1 fan! We went to the Spanish Grand Prix in June and now I rush home most Sunday afternoons so I don’t miss the first corner!

Would you rather be able to fly, or breathe underwater?

Definitely fly.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Country music! My parents took us on a road trip around the ‘Wild West’ when I was 18. We stayed on a ranch in Wyoming and watched the sun rise over the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We covered 6 states and over 3,000 miles, meaning we listened to a lot of local radio, so now I’ll use any excuse to sing along to a bit of Dolly Parton!

What are your personal hobbies?

I love swimming and feel incredibly lucky that the office overlooks the water. I went for a sea swim in my first week at AJC and will definitely be making the most of it before winter.

Do you have a claim to fame?

I grew up in Northumberland and was voted the ‘Bonniest Baby’ in our local newspaper! My parents won a huge framed photo of me, which I’m afraid to admit still hangs proudly on their wall.

What is the best place you’ve ever travelled/visited?

I spent a couple of weeks in a Buddhist monastery in India, teaching the young monks Western science. Each morning we were woken by the sound of chanting, calling us to Puja, a prayer session in the temple which takes place as the sun rises around you. It was an incredible experience.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

I am desperate to see the Quokkas* on Rottnest Island off western Australia. Living on an island with no predators, they have never learnt to fear us and are so curious instead.
* A Quokka is a marsupial which looks like a cross between a wallaby and a koala – and it’s very cute!

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

My family. Having moved 350 miles from one end of the country to the other, the time we spend together is so valuable.

What’s your ideal holiday?

I love to travel so I always try to tick something off my bucket list! We seem to be on a roll of wonders of the world, having visited the Pyramids of Giza, Petra and Chichen Itza in the last couple of years, maybe Machu Picchu next?