Common Ground (a Community Interest Company) was set up by Lara Newman in April 2026. Lara has over 25 years of experience in property deals and complex capital investment projects, and is known for her unrelenting energy, plus her ability to successfully join the dots and get stuff done.
Having worked with many of the UK’s biggest landowners, agents and developers, Lara has held several strategic leadership and board positions, most recently as founder and Chief Executive of LocatED, the highly successful arm’s length property company owned by the Department for Education.
The first in her family to go to university, Lara is a passionate advocate for breaking down the barriers blocking those from different backgrounds from a career in the real estate and built environment industries. She is always willing to tell her own story and champions the idea that young people “can’t be what they can’t see”.
Common Ground (a Community Interest Company) was set up by Lara Newman in April 2026. Lara has over 25 years of experience in property deals and complex capital investment projects, and is known for her unrelenting energy, plus her ability to successfully join the dots and get stuff done.
Having worked with many of the UK’s biggest landowners, agents and developers, Lara has held several strategic leadership and board positions, most recently as founder and Chief Executive of LocatED, the highly successful arm’s length property company owned by the Department for Education.
The first in her family to go to university, Lara is a passionate advocate for breaking down the barriers blocking those from different backgrounds from a career in the real estate and built environment industries. She is always willing to tell her own story and champions the idea that young people “can’t be what they can’t see”.
Common Ground (a Community Interest Company) was set up by Lara Newman in April 2026. Lara has over 25 years of experience in property deals and complex capital investment projects, and is known for her unrelenting energy, plus her ability to successfully join the dots and get stuff done.
Having worked with many of the UK’s biggest landowners, agents and developers, Lara has held several strategic leadership and board positions, most recently as founder and Chief Executive of LocatED, the highly successful arm’s length property company owned by the Department for Education.
The first in her family to go to university, Lara is a passionate advocate for breaking down the barriers blocking those from different backgrounds from a career in the real estate and built environment industries. She is always willing to tell her own story and champions the idea that young people “can’t be what they can’t see”.
This delivers joined‑up public services, strong community outcomes, and meaningful value across education, public sector estates, and masterplans, building on the market‑leading reputation and track record of LocatED but without the necessary constraints of a government organisation.
We also advise private sector organisations on how to design, implement and evidence high‑quality career, work experience and outreach commitments. We shape practical programmes that are credible, locally rooted and genuinely deliverable. Our support focuses on translating headline pledges into structured, impactful activity that meets client obligations, benefits communities, and stands up to scrutiny from partners.
This delivers joined‑up public services, strong community outcomes, and meaningful value across education, public sector estates, and masterplans, building on the market‑leading reputation and track record of LocatED but without the necessary constraints of a government organisation.
We also advise private sector organisations on how to design, implement and evidence high‑quality career, work experience and outreach commitments. We shape practical programmes that are credible, locally rooted and genuinely deliverable. Our support focuses on translating headline pledges into structured, impactful activity that meets client obligations, benefits communities, and stands up to scrutiny from partners.
The property and built environment sector relies too heavily on
informal networks, chance and privilege.
Common Ground exists to change that — permanently.
We believe that challenging deep-rooted, outdated attitudes will lead to industry-leading inclusion and benefit both the sector and society as a whole.
We widen access to, and progress in, careers in property and the built environment for young people from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds — and we do it in ways that actually shift outcomes.
Not one‑off talks. Not unpaid work. Not tick‑box inclusion.
Our programmes are funded by our own consultancy work, alongside partnerships and philanthropic investment.
That means:
• Long‑term delivery, not short‑term pilots
• Independence from shifting funding priorities
• Accountability for real outcomes
Our commercial success will directly fuel our community impact – commission us and become part of that.
We will publish our impact transparently — because this work only matters if it changes who gets to shape places in the future.