Sir Euan Gough-Calthorpe, principal of property investor and developer Calthorpe Estates, has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Birmingham in recognition of the company’s ongoing contribution to the university and the city.

In a ceremony held at the University’s Great Hall in Edgbaston, Sir Euan was bestowed as a Doctor of the University.

Sir Euan has worked closely with the management team of Calthorpe Estates and the board of trustees to continually evolve the 610 hectare Edgbaston Estate, which his family has owned and managed for nearly 300 years.

In the dedication, the Calthorpe family’s pre-eminent role in the life and development of the City of Birmingham and of Birmingham University was acknowledged. Specific reference was make to the vision and generosity of Sir Euan’s Victorian ancestors in donating land for the Edgbaston campus when the University first received its charter, and a second donation of land upon which the Medical School and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital now stand.

The continued relationship between Calthorpe Estates and the University was also highlighted with the construction of the new University Science Park, which begins next year on the former BBC Pebble Mill site.

Being delivered through an alliance involving Calthorpe Estates, Advantage West Midlands, University of Birmingham, Central Technology Belt and Birmingham City Council, the £90 million science park is pivotal to the wealth creation strategy of the region and will help to stimulate new investment capital. The first building to be completed will house a biotechnology incubator to support the University’s established reputation for biotechnology excellence.

Alongside other office and mixed-used schemes, University Science Park is a prime example of Sir Euan’s involvement in the successful establishment of a private group of property development and investment companies that make up Calthorpe Estates current £350 million regeneration portfolio.

Calthorpe House is 105,000 sq ft of office space just off Five Ways Island and near the £110 million Edgbaston Galleries development.
Sir Euan’s external directorships have included STG Holdings plc, a property to IT investment group; HTTP Technology Inc; Estate Insurance Group and Capstone Foster Care Ltd.