DPP gains foothold in new markets

The Leeds-based company, which has seven offices across the UK and works across a number of development sectors, bought Leeds-based Richard Raper Planning (RRP), ahead of the retirement of founder Mr Raper, who set up the company in 1993.

DPP said that RRP’s high street retail focus and its relationships with major national banks and leisure operators would broaden its influence in key growth sectors.

Mr Raper, 59, has joined DPP’s Leeds office as a consultant for two years to introduce and integrate his existing clients to DPP as well as act in a wider business development role.

Employees Haris Kasuji, a principal planner, and Graham Whiteford, a senior planner, have also joined DPP’s Leeds team.

Bob Robinson, chairman of DPP, said: “This is an exciting time for DPP. The link-up with RRP serves to both broaden our client base and bolster our income stream.

“We look forward to working with the RRP team and bringing DPP’s experience and services to bear for the benefit of our new clients – many of whom have ambitious expansion/relocation programmes that will require our input to secure consents for change of use and physical alterations of premises.”

Mr Raper added, “DPP’s complementary working culture and approach means we see strong mutual benefit in this coming together for our team and our clients.

“We anticipate our combined clients will reap immediate rewards from linking our services and expertise and we look forward to developing the business further in the future.”

DPP has a £12.5m turnover and 130 staff including 60 professional planners, of which 16 are in Leeds.

Its clients include Tesco, Bellway Homes, Caffé Nero, English Heritage, The Ministry of Justice, and Shell International.

Richard Raper, which became a limited company in 1993, employs three staff. It has a number of clients including landscape products group Marshalls.

Mr Robinson said: “There is no overlap with our existing client base and there is a benefit to us in terms of an international income stream.”

He added: “RRP brings in work we could do before, and have done, but it has a different quantum of blue chip clients.”

The acquisition is expected to boost DPP’s workload by 70-80 instructions a year on top of its current work. Mr Robinson said: “We are always on the look-out for opportunities for expansion via acquisition or organic growth. This acquisition is a good platform for further growth.”

DPP, which was behind plans for the new £35m sports centre in Huddersfield that gained planning permission last November, has secured a new contract with Domino’s Pizza and is also pursuing options for town centre developments in the West Midlands and the South.

“I am optimistic about the 12 months ahead,” said Mr Robinson.

Residential housing is expected to provide further growth for the company as housebuilders start to look at kickstarting development again.

“A lot of developers are looking to get themselves in a position once they see positive signs in the market to start developing again,” he added.

However, he believes that the ongoing eurozone crisis and problems with bank funding will continue to restrain new developments.

He said: “I think there needs to be some confidence in the stability of Europe and from the banks there needs to be more of a can-do attitude.

“One of the big obstacles is the attitude of the banks who are very cautious about lending.

“They claim to have the resources but they are so cautious that people are finding it very difficult to get access to money.

“The banks have to be prepared to take a risk. Once they are seen to be doing that, there will be a significant upturn.

“I think we’ll start to see a change from August and September onwards.”

Mr Raper added: “These are exciting times and there’s no reason why we can’t go forward.

“We do a lot of work in high street retail and from our point of view, there has to be more diversity on our high streets if they are to succeed.

“That is being looked at by the Government and is starting to happen and it will provide us with more work in the future.”

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