Property firm launches development consultancy

Senior director of development Kevin Bramley is heading up the new division, with director of regeneration David Codling, director of residential Steven Verity, and senior surveyor Victoria Baker-Sinclair.

It aims to help corporate clients get the most from their portfolios, developers drive forward speculative development and occupiers look for new premises.

Mr Bramley said: "It is nationally acknowledged that public-sector funding is less readily available and, therefore, development opportunities need to be presented more cleverly to get the best leverage and gearage out of the resources available.

"Alongside this, the office sector has reacted more maturely through the boom than in previous cycles and as a result, there is no over-supply of new offices in the market."

"When there is an imbalance of supply and demand, key locations will flourish, and as the economy emerges from the turbulence and occupiers choose to upgrade or are forced to do so due to lease expiries or mergers, for example, opportunities will emerge for developers to harness pre-lets and consider moving forward with speculative development."

He added: "The increasing resolve of organisations to push forward with opportunities throughout the year won't be affected by the spring Budget as most have factored in the inevitable impact of this."