Network Rail has strengthened its Property Board by appointing Neil Sachdev and Steve Smith as non-executive directors.

With over 70 years' of combined experience working in the property and regeneration sector, both Mr Sachdev and Mr Smith will contribute to improving Network Rail Property's estate and property assets.

Mr Sachdev is a former Board Property Director at Sainsbury's and was responsible for a strategy change to deliver over five million sq ft of new retail space. He is currently a Non-Executive at NHS Property Services Limited, Visiting Professor in the Built Environment at the University of Salford and Chairman of Market Tech Limited and Martins Properties Group.

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In addition, Mr Smith was a former Chief Investment Officer at British Land and was responsible for group strategy and investment, including a £1.4 billion development programme and £600 million of property disposals, which largely consisted of non-core assets. He has also been Chief Executive of AXA Real Estate Investment Management UK.

The appointments are part of the company's plans to ramp up its activities in the property sector. The new Property Board will provide greater focus on plans to deliver land for housing, while continuing to generate income from Network Rail’s other property assets to reinvest into the railway.

David Biggs, managing director of Network Rail Property, said: "Our new non-executive directors are both leading UK property experts who will bring hugely valuable commercial experience to our business. I look forward to working with them to continue to unlock land for homes, drive economic growth in towns and cities and reinvest money into the rail network to help fund the Railway Upgrade Plan."

(LM/CD)