Montagu Evans has further increased its Historic Environment and Townscape team with the appointment of Emma Lawrence as an Associate.

Emma joins the partnership from Savills, where she managed a range of large-scale projects, with a particular focus on heritage, retrofit and urban design for developers, owners and occupiers, including Brookfield, Canary Wharf Group and Durham University. She also brings established relationships with central London local authorities, Historic England and architects, masterplanners, and development managers.

At Montagu Evans, Emma will strengthen its 28-strong national historic environment and townscape team and support the business’s focus on Central London planning, drawing on 12 years’ experience across the public, private, and charitable sectors to offer balanced, strategic advice to clients navigating complex projects.

In London, Montagu Evans provided heritage and townscape on M&S’s Oxford Street plans and is currently advising on new plans for Earls Court Olympia, Custom House and Highgate Cemetery, among others, as well as providing specialist advice on tall buildings in the City of London and elsewhere. It is also working with developers, landowners and institutions on the refurbishment/repurposing potential of historic assets and 20th-century buildings through its Retrofix initiative.

Timur Tatlioglu, Head of Historic Environment and Townscape at Montagu Evans, said: “Montagu Evans specialises in delivering our clients’ aspirations through strong relationships, experience, and our expert advice. Emma’s public and private sector experience and knowledge of delivering complex schemes across the capital will offer additional support to our clients as our planning team continues to grow.”

Emma Lawrence, Associate at Montagu Evans, said: “My focus has always been on helping applicants and clients achieve the best outcomes by navigating the interplay between heritage assets and wider development objectives. I’m looking forward to this next step with Montagu Evans, working with its talented planning team and colleagues in advisory and transactional fields and building new relationships in the industry.”

Montagu Evans has expanded its 50-strong national rating team ahead of the 2026 revaluation, appointing Julie Chalmers as Partner.

Based at the partnership’s Manchester office, Julie joins the firm following three years as a Director at Colliers, and before that, seven years at Newmark (then Gerald Eve).

She will initially work on major mandates, including Manchester Metropolitan University, Salford College, Transport for Greater Manchester, Arnold Clark (in England), Innside Hotels (Melia) and Greater Manchester Fire, both now and moving towards the 2026-2029 period. Other clients in the region include the Combined Authority in Manchester, Manchester City FC, several health trusts (in Cheshire and Merseyside), Glyndwr University and significant college estates at Wigan, Salford and in Manchester and Bradford, led by Partner Richard Wackett.

Josh Myerson, Head of Rating Advisory at Montagu Evans, said: “We have a strong regional presence with clients in Manchester, Liverpool and their satellites, and expectations to grow further – especially with support for businesses needing to increase in the run-up to the 2026 revaluation.

“Julie has reported some outstanding rating achievements for clients, reflecting a high level of expertise and commerciality in our key sectors. Her place as a senior member of the rating team nationally will ensure additional resource and depth of experience at this important time, as well as a commitment to new and existing clients long-term.”

Julie Chalmers, Partner at Montagu Evans, added: “Business rates should be coming up the corporate agenda again given the upcoming revaluation and need for companies to proactively manage future financial commitments.

“Montagu Evans has strong regional and national teams supporting clients during this time. Its clear technical expertise, focus on specialist sectors and collaborative approach are all very attractive, as is the chance to be part of a growing team. This is an exciting time to join and I’m looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Julie’s appointment follows lease advisory specialist Amy Bracey and occupier specialist Kieran Webber joining the partnership in the last three months, both part of its industrial and logistics team. Montagu Evans is continuing to recruit in key areas of focus following additional investment into the business by Partners at the end of 2024.

CBRE Investment Management (CBRE IM) and Development Manager V7, advised by Montagu Evans, have been given the green light for a new last-mile urban logistics hub south of Wandsworth town centre.

LB Wandsworth resolved to grant planning consent for the redevelopment of the facility following the tenant’s planned relocation. The site sits within the Lydden Road Locally Significant Industrial Area.

The new industrial and logistics facility will provide 36,877 sq ft (3,426 sq m) of modern, flexible accommodation, including a mezzanine, offices and a secure service yard with two loading bays.

The proposals, designed by PRC, also include integrated PV panels and air source heat pumps to comply with national, regional, and local renewable energy policy criteria, as well as cycle parking, provision for EV charging, urban greening and biodiversity enhancements. BREEAM Outstanding is targeted.

Zak Veasey, Director at V7, commented: “This asset is situated in a prime location. Once upgraded to the highest modern standards, 20 Lydden Road will meet the evolving commercial demands of the area and align with the requirements of occupiers and businesses, delivering a best-in-class facility.

“V7, in collaboration with TFT, assembled an experienced professional team to design and deliver a state-of-the-art facility that meets the Council’s LSIA aspirations. It is a testament to the design team that the application had no objections from the local community and is approved and ready to build once the tenant vacates.”

Jeremy Evershed, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “These plans will provide new, high-quality urban logistics space with increased operational and sustainability credentials in an outstanding Wandsworth location. They will replace a former industrial facility at the end of its functional life, enhancing the local streetscape and supporting the local economy. This decision is a significant milestone in bringing forward this new development.”

Project team

Project Manager & Sustainability Coordinator: TFT

Planning Consultant & Viability Consultant: Montagu Evans

Architect: PRC Architecture and Planning

Principal Designer and CDMA: Stonewells Integrated Project Services

Structural Engineers: Evolve Consulting Engineers

Services Engineer: Watkins Payne

Transport Consultant: Transport Planning Practice

Sustainability Consultant: Kingfisher Ecology

Acoustic Consultant: Clarke Saunders Associates

Building Control: C3 Design Approvals

Fire Engineer: Trigon Fire Safety

Cost Consultant: Burnley Wilson Fish

Public Consultation: Cavendish Consulting

Lawyer: Eversheds Sutherland

Montagu Evans has further strengthened its Industrial & Logistics team with the appointment of lease advisory specialist Amy Bracey FRICS as Partner.

Previously a Director within the Business Space Lease Advisory team at Colliers, Amy has particular expertise in the Industrial & Logistics sector and more than 14 years’ experience in the industry.

She will join the market-leading National Multi-Let Industrial & Trade sub-team, working closely with Partner Steve McDonald to run the largest retained instruction base for lease advisory in the country, acting for institutional landlords on over 200 trade parks nationally and with a range of instructions in most cities and towns.

Montagu Evans’ 30-strong I&L team advises major landlords, funders, developers and occupiers with a range of services from capital markets, agency, development and lease advisory to planning, heritage and townscape, valuation and rating. It is active across the country, with a particular focus on London and the M25, including last mile, multi-let industrial, mid-box, trade counters, self-storage and data centres.

Its lease advisory team focuses on two key areas – National Multi-Let Industrial & Trade and London & M25 Mid to Large Boxes – and provides general industrial services.

In addition to working with existing Montagu Evans clients, Amy will focus on securing new instructions, particularly with the partnership’s clients in other areas and in her home patch of the South West.

She will also continue to support the RICS through her role at APC Success, where she trains graduates to prepare for the APC to achieve chartered status, as well as serve as an APC assessor and chair.

This appointment follows strategic occupier specialist Kieran Webber joining the business as a Partner in November 2024 and is part of the wider growth of its I&L team. Other areas of focus currently are resi/living markets, London planning and public sector advisory, in addition to industrial & logistics.

Steve McDonald, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “This is a further strategic appointment for the partnership as we put in place ambitious growth plans supported by a strong team of specialists at all levels.

“It has been a rare opportunity to recruit such an experienced candidate at the top of the trade market, who also perfectly fits our firm-wide ethos of growing organically long-term via the next generation of talent with the ready-made qualities of an APC assessor, chair, mentor and teacher. Amy is a very welcome addition to the business.

Amy Bracey, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Having known the firm and having had the chance to see its team at work first-hand through my APC role, this step to Partner is a natural progression. It is an exciting time to join the business – the I&L team is already very well-respected in the market, and its lease advisory team is second to none in this area.”

 

Lambeth Council is this month launching its first portfolio development opportunity for six development sites across the borough, aiming to deliver up to 450 new mixed-tenure homes.

The Council is seeking a single Development Partner to develop all six sites in the combined portfolio titled New Homes 6 (NH6), worth a gross development value of £250m.

The NH6 is the second procurement opportunity that Lambeth Council has launched in the past year to speed up the delivery of affordable homes as part of its New Homes Programme to tackle the chronic shortage of social housing in Lambeth.

Cllr Danny Adilypour, the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Housing, Investment and New Homes, said: “Since the launch of our New Homes Programme in March last year, we have made great strides in unlocking many housing projects in the borough to enable us to deliver more affordable housing for our residents.

“But as the temporary accommodation crisis continues, with 5,000 households in often sub-standard temporary accommodation and more than 40,000 people on Lambeth’s housing waiting list, coupled with difficult financial circumstances, we need to act more urgently through the most effective way to help us deliver new housing.“Alongside working with the Government to find solutions to our housing crisis, we know that the right partnership with an industry expert will help us deliver more new affordable homes at pace which we have started implementing on other projects already to accelerate delivery.

“As we begin the search for a partner to deliver the New Homes 6, I look forward to working with our residents and the right partner to bring forward this significant project that will not only bring forward much-needed high-quality housing but also improve so many of our Lambeth neighbourhoods in the future.”

The partnership offer will be advertised through the Find a Tender Service portal from 6 January 2025.

The deadline for submission of initial tenders will be 22 April 2025, with the preferred partner expected to be chosen by November 2025.

Montagu Evans is advising Lambeth Council on the procurement of the development partner.

Four of the six sites are located between the London Eye and The Oval, one is near Larkhall Park, and the sixth is near Brockwell Park:

• Denby Court, SE11 – circa 0.51 ha/indicative capacity of 141 homes
• Larkhall Lane, SW4 – circa 0.32 ha/indicative capacity of 127 homes
• Knight’s Walk Phase 2, SE11 – circa 0.54 ha/indicative capacity of 68 homes
• Jonathan & Orsett Street, SE11 – circa 46 ha/indicative capacity 67 homes
• 30 Wootton Street, London, SE1 – circa 0.14 hectares/indicative capacity of 24 homes
• Trinity Rise, SW2 – circa 0.12 ha/indicative capacity 20 homes

Across the portfolio, the Council expects the following to be met:

• Maximising housing delivery (over 450 units across initial sites)
• Maximising delivery of affordable homes, achieving at least 35% across the portfolio
• Start-on-site of at least 150 Affordable Homes by 2030, of which at least 70% should be for social rent.
• High-quality design and sustainable development
• Delivery of social value, employment & skills opportunities for all communities across the borough

For more information on the NH6 portfolio, please visit the Lambeth website.

In its annual report and accounts published this week at Companies House, Montagu Evans has reported annual revenue and profit increases in its financial year to 31 March 2024.

Against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty, the partnership reported revenue of £56.0 million and a statutory profit of £14.4 million in its last full financial year.

Revenue on continuing operations increased by £3.2 million to £51.6 million, representing 7% growth. The firm’s Planning and Advisory teams reported increases in income of 9% and 10%, respectively, with investment and growth in key areas. On 1 July 2024, the firm completed its divestment from Property Management.

Investment in the business in the 2023-24 financial year continued, with an increase in research and insight activity for clients, expanded sustainability capability and strengthening of operational infrastructure. DE&I and employee wellbeing remained a Board-level focus.

Three promotions to Partner were made at the start of the financial year, and recruitment of senior lateral hires continued, with appointments in Central London and data centre planning, Rating advisory for occupiers and I&L sector development/agency.

Statutory profit increased by £0.3 million year-on-year to £14.4 million. The average member’s remuneration increased by 5% to £353k, with the highest-earning member earning £676k. Company-wide bonuses awarded to staff were up by 6%.

Working across the public and private sectors, Montagu Evans’ clients range from government departments, Homes England, NHS Property Services, the GLA, Network Rail, TfL, local authorities and NHS Trusts to CBRE IM, Aviva, L&G and Columbia Threadneedle, LandSec, British Land, SEGRO, Commercial Estates Group, St William and Taylor Wimpey.

In London, it is heritage adviser for M&S Marble Arch, which was given the green light by the new MHCLG Secretary of State earlier this month, and provided planning, advisory and leasing advice for Network Rail’s Bow Goods Yard scheme in Stratford, which was approved earlier this year. It is currently advising on future plans for Earls Court/Olympia, Shoreditch Works, Orchard Wharf, the Royal Albert Dock and the British Museum, among others.

In Liverpool, Montagu Evans has launched the search for a new development partner for Festival Gardens. Further north, it was a planning consultant for The Àrd PBSA in Glasgow, one of Scotland’s tallest buildings, and has been instructed for planning on Scotland’s first ever Centre Parcs, south of Edinburgh.

Outgoing Managing Partner Rob Bower, said: “The growth of this partnership during my tenure, its resilience in tough times, commitment to its people and ability to support clients across their most challenging planning and development requirements is something I am immensely proud of.

“We have continued to build on our market-leading town planning and heritage reputation, and we have also built a stand-out advisory business – both transactional and consultancy. We are now streamlined into areas where we have the scale, critical mass, connections and depth of experience to deliver market-leading advice to our clients, who remain front and centre of all that we do.

“There are clear opportunities ahead. Financially, we are performing well and it is the right point in the cycle to invest, backed by Partners who have provided millions of pounds in new capital in the last quarter. Building on our strong position with more Partners and greater expertise, we will ensure that, as the business moves forward under new leadership, we continue to offer the strategic thinking, commerciality and responsiveness the market has come to expect.”

Current Head of Advisory, Alan Harris will become the firm’s tenth Managing Partner from 1 April 2025. The firm’s leadership transition programme is well underway and recruitment of senior people in key strategic areas of the business continues.

Montagu Evans has announced its first new Partner under major investment, growth and recruitment plans announced this month.

Strategic occupier advisory specialist for the industrial and logistics sector, Kieran Webber, has joined the partnership to lead the I&L occupier advisory side of the business, with further investment from the firm to grow its team and increase its service offering to occupier clients.

Previously a Director in JLL’s UK I&L team, Kieran provides tenant representative advice and operates across the UK with local/regional, national and international clients. He previously set up and headed the Acquisitions and Occupier Services team at Page Hardy Harris.

At Montagu Evans, he becomes part of the now 30-strong industrial and logistics team and will focus on working with occupiers on acquisitions of existing buildings, build-to-suit opportunities and land. Kieran will also provide occupier clients with strategic advice on their property portfolios to include disposals, consolidation projects, UK-wide expansion rollouts,  implementing new property strategies following mergers & acquisitions, and identifying opportunities to raise capital.

The firm advises major landlords, funders, developers and occupiers, providing a range of services, including capital markets, agency, development and lease advisory, as well as planning, heritage and townscape, valuation and rating. It is active across the country, with a particular focus on London and the M25, including last mile, multi-let industrial, mid-box, trade counters, self-storage and data centres.

Tom Paton-Smith, Partner and head of Montagu Evans’  Industrial team said: “We expect continued growth in the I&L sector, not just because it remains an attractive asset class worldwide but because the challenges the UK and specifically London is facing are directly supported by our skillsets.

“Our team has developed to become a major force in the London industrial market, and now is the right time to grow. We want to make the most of the many opportunities ahead as the markets improve.

“Kieran is the first of a number of appointments Montagu Evans expects to make in the months ahead, with more joiners, as well as internal promotions, to follow at all levels of the partnership.

“With new financial investment thanks to recent capital raising for growth, we see additional opportunity in resi/living markets, London planning and public sector advisory, in addition to industrial & logistics. The business is in a strong and exciting position going into 2025.”

Kieran Webber, Partner at Montagu Evans, added: “Occupier sentiment remains resilient, but driving efficiency is paramount, both from a financial and environmental perspective. The use of automation is expanding, as are environmental efficiency requirements, resulting in a focus on best-in-class/new assets with great ESG credentials and power connectivity, enabling occupiers to secure future-proofed properties.

“I’m looking forward to being part of a collaborative team providing enhanced advice underpinned by strategic thinking to support our clients in making the most of these opportunities.”

I can’t easily put down in words how much I’ve enjoyed being the Managing Partner (MP) of this great firm, one of the few larger, true LLPs left in our industry. We see talented people who are keen to join or return to this true partnership culture knocking on our doors every day – long may that continue!

Since 2014, when I started as MP, Montagu Evans has grown on average at just under 10% each year. During this period, we have continued to build on our market-leading town planning reputation, but we have also built a fabulous advisory business – both transactional and consultancy – that now works hand-in-glove with our 120-strong planning, heritage & townscape team as we help to solve some of our clients’ thorniest planning and development challenges.

Having decided to retire from the firm after 10 years in the MP role and 30 years with the Partnership to enjoy some time travelling, skiing and exploring (before I’m too old!), the transition to new leadership is gathering pace. Alongside this, the Partnership has set out its initial plans for future growth from our current, strong platform.

Now is the right time to invest. Firstly, we are at the right point in the cycle, and we want to make the most of the many opportunities ahead as the market starts to improve.

Second, our clients have been telling us to grow where we are strong and to invest further to support them as they look to grow their businesses.

Thirdly, because successful partnerships like ours are built on the genuine interest we take in our people, we want to grow to create room for progression and promotions. However, we also have plenty of room – in our areas of strength – for new talent to join us.

Right now, we see additional opportunities in resi/living markets (land, capital markets and student), industrial & logistics (urban, data, open storage), London planning (City of London, Southbank and areas/boroughs with strong transport links) and public sector advisory, with other areas no doubt likely to come to the fore in the future. These growth areas touch all three departments in the firm.

We are investing in these areas right now, and we intend to recruit as well as support our existing teams with promotions and organic growth.

Two Partner appointments have been made very recently – details of the first will follow in the next week – and we expect more new joiners at all levels to follow. Our partnership structure is attractive, and we already have the capacity and infrastructure in place, having disposed of our Property Management business earlier this year.

The Partners who own the business are committed to these plans and have, in the last few weeks, agreed on a significant financial investment to support this additional growth, providing millions in new capital. Whilst some in the industry remain burdened with debt or talk the talk on expansion whilst lacking the financial means to make it a reality, our Partners have stepped up and committed. Our competition seems focused on diversifying service lines, whilst our strategy is to invest in expertise and depth in the areas we are known for.

It has been important to me, personally, to leave the Partnership in as strong a position as possible. This is the final big step to support the incoming leadership and the rest of the business before I step back from the Partnership at the end of March next year, and I am pleased to be able to share this update at this point.

The prospect of more resource, more expertise and more insight, building on our current, resilient position, is exciting and gives our clients even more support at this key time of recovery. Not every business is in the fortunate position of having such long-term investment behind it, and we are looking forward to the new opportunities ahead.

Montagu Evans has appointed Partner, Bhavini Shah, as its new Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

She begins her new role this month, drawing on a decade of experience in the partnership as a healthcare property specialist in its Advisory team and longstanding DE&I advocate. Previous roles at the firm include Partner sponsor for Open Circle, Montagu Evans’ internal network for ethnically diverse employees, and DE&I committee member for the last four years.

Bhav will develop a DE&I strategy that will engage and integrate deeply with the firm’s objectives, using data and insight gathered through engagement with team members, clients and industry stakeholders. Montagu Evans’ Corporate Responsibility report, combining Sustainability and DE&I for the first time, will be published in the autumn.

Reporting to Vicky Thompson, Director of HR and member of the Montagu Evans’ Executive Committee, Bhav will work alongside Head of Sustainability Oli Pye as well as the firm’s Managing Partner and other groups, including Open Circle, Enable:ME and ME:Pride. Externally, RICS, RTPI, We Rise In, PREACH Inclusion, Real Estate Balance and Freehold remain important partners.

Alan Harris, Head of Advisory and incoming Managing Partner, at Montagu Evans said: “With a clear understanding of our partnership based on 10+ years’ progression and experience, Bhav has advocated a bold and systematic approach to furthering our DE&I strategy. She will provide clear direction, inspire the business and ensure our Partnership makes progress in this important area. Many at Monties know her to be an authentic and passionate  leader and she has everyone’s full support in this new role.”

Bhav Shah, Head of DE&I at Montagu Evans, said: “A number of years of leaning into the DE&I space in conjunction with my role as a surveyor, made me realise there was a passion for inclusion that could become a larger part of my working life. With a strong commercial understanding, my vision is to create an authentically inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone can bring their best selves to work. I will use my lived intersectional experience, combined with internal and external stakeholder engagement, to support these goals as part of this new opportunity for change.”