Montagu Evans has advised the Ministry of Defence (MoD), via the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), on the successful acquisition of Unit 4 at Panattoni Park in Swindon for NATO’s largest European indoor drone testing facility.

Marking one of the largest defence-related real estate transactions in UK history, the 545,000 sq ft, Grade A facility will play an important role in the development and testing of cutting-edge technologies in a strategically important location for the country’s defence sector.

As part of its appointment by the DIO for Estate Management Professional Services (EMPS) under the Crown Commercial Services Framework Agreement, Montagu Evans provided the MoD and the DIO real estate team with occupational and commercial advice on the acquisition.

The facility was formally unveiled by defence secretary Dan Jarvis on 19 June in a ceremony attended by representatives from Montagu Evans.

Montagu Evans’ partnership with the DIO forms part of its role as a leading advisor to several of the country’s largest public sector estates landowners – with the public sector one of the firm’s four key “conviction areas”.

Kieran Webber, Lead Partner for Industrial & Logistics Occupier Advisory at Montagu Evans, said:

“Securing a best-in-class 545,000 sq ft facility reflects the growing scale and sophistication of demand within the defence sector, which continues to translate into strong activity across the UK industrial and logistics market. We were delighted with the outcome for our client, supporting multiple stakeholders with in-depth advice on a complex acquisition, whilst moving at pace to deliver a successful result.

This transaction clearly demonstrates our Partnership USP – effectively connecting public and private sector expertise with a singular focus on client outcomes.  It’s great to see our Industrial & Logistics and Public Sector conviction areas delivering on this mission-critical project.”

Montagu Evans has appointed experienced development and living sector valuation specialist George Tsielepis as a Partner in its Residential Valuation team, strengthening its Residential offering. George’s hire marks the latest in a string of strategic appointments at a time of sustained growth for the firm.

George joins from Knight Frank, where he was a Partner in the firm’s Residential Investment Valuation division. With over 18 years’ experience, George has delivered high-value, complex valuations across BTR, PRS, co-living, single-family housing, and the broader development market as a whole. Acting on behalf of the sector’s leading institutional lenders, funders, brokers and developers, his clients have included HSBC, Macquarie, NatWest and Aldar.

Prior to Knight Frank, George was Head of Valuation at London-based consultancy Anderson, Wilde & Harris, where he helped build a cross sector valuation team from the ground up.

At Montagu Evans, George will support the continued growth of the firm’s Residential Valuation offering, which valued more than £3 billion of assets over the last 12 months. Led by Oliver Chivers, the team provides valuation advice across the entire living sector, including development, investment and stock valuations, for loan security, acquisition, and financial reporting purposes.

Valuations form a key part of Montagu Evans’ wider Residential offering – one of its four key conviction areas – with its multi-disciplinary residential services also including capital markets, strategic land, and planning, among several more.

George’s appointment follows a number of senior hires across Montagu Evans’ four conviction areas – Residential, Industrial & Logistics, Public sector, and Central London. These include Cecilia Fellows, formerly of Carter Jonas, as a Partner in its 30-strong Valuation, Asset & Investment Advisory team, as well as Will Lingard, formerly of CBRE, as a Partner in its Central London planning team. John Weir, previously Head of Real Assets at £11.1 billion endowment fund the Church Commissioners for England, joins as Head of Planning in October this year.

Oliver Chivers, Residential Valuation lead at Montagu Evans, said:
“Widely recognised as a subject matter expert, George brings deep expertise across the living sector. He joins at a time of sustained growth within the firm, and in a market where clients need clear commercially astute, sound valuation advice to navigate a highly complex environment.”

George Tsielepis, Partner, Residential Valuation, said:
“Montagu Evans appealed to me for its unrivalled combination of cross-sectoral valuation expertise and a strongly established footprint in the residential market, giving it a compelling proposition in this service area. I look forward to leveraging the firm’s partner-led approach, as well as my existing network, to drive this offering further – with a deep supply-demand imbalance and a complex web of pressures in the residential market presenting ample room for additional growth.”

Montagu Evans has appointed John Weir to head its market leading Planning department as it enters the next phase of growth. A chartered surveyor and town planner, John will begin his role at Montagu Evans in October 2026.

He joins from The Church Commissioners for England, where he was Head of Real Assets, with responsibility for the investment and asset management of more than £2 billion held directly and indirectly in property portfolios across the UK and overseas.

John’s client side and asset experience spans the private and public sector, including landed estates and institutional property owners across mixed use, commercial, strategic land and infrastructure. This makes him an ideal fit for the breadth of clients and projects which Montagu Evans specialises in. In his leadership role at Montagu Evans, John will champion a client centric approach and further build and strengthen the Planning department.

Under Craig Blatchford’s 7-year tenure as Head of Department, the Planning team has grown to over 100 people, including 36 Partners, specialising in complex regeneration and repurposing projects across data centres, townscape, Central London, residential, retail, industrial and logistics and the public sector across all parts of England, Wales and Scotland. Recent high-profile projects include City of London’s Custom House, Paddington’s Fleming Centre and Centre Parcs first destination in Scotland. Blatchford, who is remaining with the business, will continue advising clients and play an active role in the ongoing success of the department when John joins.

John’s appointment reflects continued investment across the partnership, following the recent hiring of Tim Price from Savills as Equity Partner and Head of Commercial Planning and Will Lingard who joined from CBRE as a Partner in the Central London team.

This follows four Partner promotions into the Planning department earlier in the year: Kate Falconer Hall, as Equity Partner and Emma Lawrence as Salaried Partner in the Historic Environment & Townscape team; James Huish, and Colin Sinclair, as Partners in the Central London and Housing & Land teams respectively. These appointments form part of the firm’s largest-ever promotion round, with 35 people elevated across the business, including 10 new partners. They came after Montagu Evans reported a strong set of financial results in December: total annual revenue from continuing operations of £52.8m, an increase of £1.2m, and a £13.2m statutory profit for the financial year to 31 March 2025.

Alan Harris, Managing Partner, Montagu Evans said:
“Spearheaded for seven successful years by Craig Blatchford, who will remain with the firm, our Planning department has built unsurpassed capability for unlocking value for clients in complex scenarios. This set of skills and expertise has never been more in demand than today, when clients are facing particularly challenging market conditions, not least the far-reaching implications of the upcoming revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and continuing viability pressures.

“At this pivotal moment for planning and development, John brings invaluable experience leading real estate strategy and operations at The Church Commissioners for England. Throughout his career he has worked with a range of asset classes and, in consultancy roles, with the public and private sectors and is a long standing, trusted adviser to C-suites. John will play a critical role in helping clients navigate fast-moving and challenging market conditions, bringing exceptional experience, expertise and connections that will allow us to unlock even more value for our clients.”

Commenting on his appointment, John Weir said:
“Montagu Evans combines a strong platform with a team of exceptional calibre. It is well placed to support clients through a complex market, from development viability and cost of finance to increasing regulatory pressure in planning. That clarity of advice and focus on outcomes is what makes the firm stand out and I’m looking forward to contributing to the next phase of growth.”

Montagu Evans has appointed Will Lingard as Partner in its Central London planning team, further strengthening its planning capability in the capital.

Will joins Montagu Evans after a decade at CBRE, where he led the firm’s Central London planning offer. During this time, he secured planning permission for major schemes including West End office refurbishments, mixed-use developments and heritage-led regeneration projects.

At Montagu Evans, he will advise investors, developers and landowners on planning projects across mixed-use, office, hotel and cultural developments in Central London – one of Montagu Evans’ four key “conviction areas”.

With Will’s appointment, Montagu Evans now benefits from a 17-strong Central London planning team, led by Guy Bransby. The team sits within a wider, expanding planning function of more than 100 specialists, working across areas in addition to Central London, including data centres, townscape, residential, retail, industrial and logistics, and the public sector.

The announcement follows the recent Partner hires of Peter Jacobs, Christian Glazier and Alex White, all Central London advisory specialists, further reinforcing the firm’s growth strategy across its Central London conviction area and strengthening its offer in this key market.

Will’s appointment comes at a critical time for London’s planning environment. Starts on site have slowed, development pipelines have reduced, and the capital’s political backdrop has become more fragmented, leading to a more complex, yet opportunity-rich, planning landscape.

Guy Bransby, Partner and Head of the Central London Planning team, Montagu Evans, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome Will to the team, reflecting our continued focus on growth and attracting top talent to the partnership. He is a leading consultant in his field, with a strong track record across high-profile projects in Central London – which is one of Montagu Evans’ key conviction areas. His experience will further strengthen our expertise in advising clients on navigating the complexities of an increasingly challenging planning environment across a range of sectors in Central London.”

Will Lingard, Partner, said:

“Central London remains a highly attractive investment market, but the route to delivery has become increasingly complex. Success depends on understanding the local context behind policy decisions, while balancing political, environmental and commercial priorities. Montagu Evans’ clarity of focus and strategic approach to these challenges, combined with its purpose-led culture, really resonates with me. I’m looking forward to being part of the continued growth of the firm’s planning offer and supporting clients on some of the capital’s most complex projects.”

Montagu Evans has appointed Cecilia Fellows as Partner in its 30-strong Valuation, Asset & Investment Advisory team, further strengthening its public sector capability – one of the partnership’s four key conviction areas.

Cecilia joins from Carter Jonas, where she led its Asset Valuation team, bringing over 20 years of experience advising local authorities, public institutions and corporate clients including extensive experience working closely with local councils across complex portfolios.

At Montagu Evans, she will focus on growing its local authority mandates, increasing the firm’s third sector, higher education and transport clients, and supporting the Advisory department capability overall.

Kevin White, Partner at Montagu Evans and head of its Valuation, Asset & Investment team, said: “This appointment is a further step in the strengthening of our public sector capability, in particular supporting local authority clients. Cecilia brings a wealth of experience, strong technical expertise and a deep understanding of the sector. She is a very welcome addition to our team and will support our future plans for growth.”

Cecilia Fellows, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Expert asset valuation advice remains essential for local authorities, especially when it combines a clear understanding of wider risks and drivers, a strong grasp of the fine detail and the ability to manage processes and timelines effectively. This new role provides an opportunity for me to continue specialising in this area in a positive, collaborative environment while extending into additional sectors and supporting Montagu Evans’ firm-wide public sector focus.”

This is the firm’s fourth external Partner appointment since the start of 2026, part of a wider programme of growth and recruitment following major multi-million-pound investment. Peter Jacob and Christian Glazier also joined the Valuation, Asset & Investment Advisory team earlier this year, focused on Central London – another key conviction area. A further six people from within the business were promoted to Partner in April.

Additionally, new Equity Partner appointments in the same period include Head of Commercial Planning, Tim Price, and Alex White, Head of Rating Advisory. Ben Monk (Rating Advisory), Kate Falconer Hall (Historic Environments & Townscape), Adam O’Neale (Industrial & Logistics) and Richard Thomas (Land & Living) were promoted to Equity Partner in April and the firm remains focused on further appointments at this level over the course of this year.

Montagu Evans has appointed Alex White as Equity Partner and Head of Rating Advisory as its Partner numbers continue to grow.

Joining from Colliers, Alex led its London rating team advising occupiers, landlords, investors and developers with a particular focus on core Central London markets.

The appointment follows Montagu Evans’ previous rating head, Josh Myerson’s move into a broader leadership role within the partnership as Head of Advisory – the department within which Rating Advisory sits. Josh continues to work directly with clients and advise professional bodies, including the RICS, on business rates matters.

As new Head of Rating with a national remit, Alex will continue to strengthen the 40+-strong team’s provision of specialist advice, as well as further embedding Rating as an enabler for unlocking complex real estate challenges within the partnership’s cross‑service teams.

His background further supports the partnership’s Central London focus, following the recent appointments of Peter Jacob and Christian Glazier as Partners in its Valuation, Asset and Investment Advisory team and continuing focus on planning, historic environment and townscape, viability and socio-economic advice across the capital, including for landmark and sensitive assets.

The appointment follows Tim Price joining the company as Equity Partner and head of its Commercial Planning team in March this year. Montagu Evans’ Head of Landlord and Developer Rating, Ben Monk, was promoted to Equity Partner on 1 April 2026, along with Kate Falconer Hall (Historic Environments & Townscape), Adam O’Neale (Industrial & Logistics) and Richard Thomas (Land & Living).

Josh Myerson, Head of Advisory at Montagu Evans, said: “Our growth strategy is continuing to attract talent from across the industry, and there is a clear appetite from the business to increase Equity Partner numbers further and support sustainable expansion at all levels.

“Alex is the right strategic fit as well as being the right individual for this role. Against an increasingly tough commercial backdrop, businesses require robust, proactive and expert-led rating support, especially following the recent revaluation, which has added further complexity, coupled in most cases with higher bills. In tandem with his nationwide brief, Alex’s Central London expertise is particularly welcome, bringing with it the ability to help clients unlock more opportunities across the capital. I’m looking forward to working closely with him over the months and years ahead.”

Alex White, Head of Rating Advisory at Montagu Evans, said: “The increased complexity of the rating system means clients are now, more than ever, in need of specialist, best-in-class advice throughout all stages of the asset or occupancy lifecycle. Quality of service is something I have always seen as a core element of rates advice, and this together with the firm’s wider growth strategy and outstanding team in place, will provide a strong platform for this new challenge.”

Montagu Evans has announced its latest round of promotions, increasing Partner numbers and recognising a total of 35 people across its business.

The promotions – its largest ever cohort – reflect the partnership’s continued focus on empowering and developing its people as it delivers the firm’s long-term growth agenda under new leadership.

Four new Equity Partners and six new Salaried Partners [pictured] have been appointed from 1 April 2026:

• Joining its ranks of Equity Partners are: Kate Falconer Hall (Historic Environments & Townscape (HEaT), Ben Monk (Rating), Adam O’Neale (Industrial & Logistics) and Richard Thomas (Land & Living).
• Promoted to Salaried Partner are: Issy Battcock (Valuation and Investment Advisory (VAIA), James Huish (Central London Planning), Kellie Laing (Clients, Brand, Markets), Emma Lawrence (HEaT), Colin Sinclair (Housing & Land Planning) and Gregor Wilson (Rating).

New Senior Associates, Associates and Seniors also represent the firm’s deep expertise and breadth of talent across its Planning, Advisory, Commercial & Agency departments:

• New Senior Associates are Josh Boreham (Offices and Industrial & Logistics), Sarah Gibbs (Residential Valuation Advisory (RVA), Emma Gill (Central London Planning), James Leuenberger (Central London Planning), Ellen Moore (Housing & Land Planning), Tristan Paterson (Retail & Leisure), Tom Pemberton (Central London Planning), Lisa Proudfoot (Scotland Planning), Katie Seabourne (VAIA) and Alister Stewart (VAIA).
• New Associates are Zelie Batchelor (Housing & Land Planning), Dale Beckley (Rating), Ben Clark (HEaT), Ben Dakin (Housing & Land Planning), Jack Hitchcock (RVA), Felix Lovell (Rating), Robbie Mattiuzzo (Rating) and Matt Roberts (Retail & Leisure)
• Joining the cohort of Seniors is Bridget Crossley (HEaT), Andrew Dykes (Rating), Izzy Mayhew (HEaT), Lulu Moakes (VAIA), Bethan O’Sullivan (Housing & Land Planning), Kelly Salman (Rating) and Rachel Slater (Development Advisory)

Alan Harris, Managing Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Our people are the foundation of our success, and these promotions recognise the exceptional talent and commitment within this partnership.

“New Equity and Salaried Partners from within the firm, along with our continuing programme of Partner hires in key conviction areas, continue to strengthen the business and drive our future growth. Clear pathways for progression and support for everyone to fulfil their potential reinforce our One Firm approach and collaborative culture. This is our largest ever round of promotions and everyone who is part of it should be celebrated.”

Montagu Evans is continuing its growth drive with the appointment of Tim Price as Equity Partner and new head of Commercial Planning.

Tim joins from Savills, where he led a nationally focused commercial team and was a Planning Board Director. He works for a range of institutional investors, developers and operators with specialist expertise in retail, leisure and all employment uses, including offices, industrial & logistics and data centres.

Montagu Evans’ 20-strong commercial planning team focuses on retail & leisure, industrial logistics, data centres, roadside/F&B and town centre/mixed-use regeneration. The department’s four other planning specialist teams are Housing & Land, Historic Environments and Townscape, Central London and Scotland.

This is the 14^th recruit to the Planning department in this financial year and the fourth Partner appointment to Montagu Evans since the start of 2026, reflecting the business’s ongoing growth strategy centred on its four conviction areas: Residential, Public Sector, Central London and Industrial & Logistics.

Craig Blatchford, Head of Planning at Montagu Evans, said: “This appointment further invests in our growing commercial planning team with a high-calibre, well-recognised expert who can drive growth, enhance our capability and support clients with complex planning challenges. We welcome Tim to the partnership – the first of a number of Partner appointments in the year ahead.”

Tim Price, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity at a pivotal time for the partnership. Montagu Evans is a go-to name in commercial planning with significant potential. As well as continuing to work with clients, I am looking forward to leading the team, supporting clients across a broad range of uses and helping them to capitalise on specific growth areas, from out-of-town retail and foodstores to urban logistics and data centres.”

Montagu Evans has further increased its focus on Central London markets, with two new Partners bolstering firm-wide growth plans and this key conviction area.

Both senior appointments sit within the partnership’s Valuation, Asset & Investment Advisory team, which provides clients with valuation services and strategic advice on enhancing the performance and value of assets and portfolios.

• Peter Jacob joins as Partner from BNP Paribas Real Estate, where he was Head of its London Valuation Advisory team since 2018. A Registered Valuer with 17 years’ experience and a member of the RICS Valuation Assurance Committee, Peter is a leading adviser in Central London and the south east, working with lenders, borrowers, public sector and charitable organisations, with a primary focus on secured lending work for institutional debt, high street clearing banks, challenger banks and mezzanine / bridging lenders. At Montagu Evans, Peter will play a key role in strengthening the team’s Central London, office-focused, secured lending valuations capability as part of a firm-wide focus on the capital.
• Christian Glazier joins as Partner to further enhance the team’s focus on secured lending and financial accounts valuations, also with a focus on Central London. Joining from BNP Paribas Real Estate, he has 15 years’ experience specialising in valuation with a strong track record in advising UK and international financial institutions and property investors and extensive London/south east market knowledge across office, retail and industrial sectors.

Kevin White, Partner at Montagu Evans and head of its Valuation, Asset and Investment team, said: “These new Partner appointments reflect our focus on growth and attracting top talent, particularly within the partnership’s key conviction areas. They will significantly increase our valuation capability with a focus on Central London, complementing the firm’s expertise across this important market in planning, historic environments and townscape, business rates, development, economics and viability, underpinned by strategic insight. Further appointments are planned as the team continues to recruit in our key markets.”

Peter Jacob, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “There is a real opportunity here to build a formidable valuation business, particularly in secured lending and focused on Central London. Offering clients greater cross-service and cross-sector expertise will help unlock many of the challenges they are facing as a result of the current economic position and continuing evolution of the lending market.”

Christian Glazier, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Montagu Evans has a clear ambition for growth and a strategy to support it, which makes this a very exciting time to be joining the firm. This strengthened valuation, asset and investment advisory offer will balance efficient operations with high-level insight and deep-rooted sector knowledge, grounded in some of the capital’s most important markets.

Montagu Evans has appointed James Salmon as Partner and Nicholas Peters as Associate in its Industrial & Logistics team, strengthening this key conviction area as part of ongoing, firm-wide growth plans.

• James Salmon joins the partnership from Allsop, where he spent over ten years building a strong track record in investment transactions, with a client base spanning institutional and private investors and developers. At Montagu Evans, he will enhance the firm’s I&L investment capability and work closely with sector specialists in agency, lease advisory, planning and data centres to provide in-depth, integrated services to clients that help unlock new opportunities.
• Nicholas Peters joins following six and a half years at JLL, including the past three years in its I&L team. With an extensive client base including RLAM, Tritax, L&G, Aviva Investors and Indurent, he has a strong track record in landlord disposal work, acquisitions and development projects, and will help to grow Montagu Evans’ already strong performance in these areas going forward.

Tom Paton-Smith, Partner at Montagu Evans and head of its Industrial & Logistics team, said: “Our strategic focus on I&L provides an immediate opportunity for both James and Nick to start adding value for clients. Their experience, wide-reaching connections and track record of delivering impressive outcomes make them both an excellent fit for the business as we build up for further growth.”

James Salmon, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Joining Montagu Evans is a fantastic opportunity to work with a team who understand the sector to its core and know how to genuinely collaborate to leverage new opportunities for clients in a complex market. I’m looking forward to being part of the team at a very exciting time for the partnership.”

Montagu Evans’ Industrial & Logistics team includes specialists in investment, development, agency, planning, valuation and business rates. These latest appointments follow the addition of Kieran Webber and Amy Bracey as Partners within the same team in early 2025, extending its capability in occupier advisory and trade counter lease advisory respectively.