Montagu Evans has appointed lease advisory specialist Jonathan Essex to its Retail & Leisure team.

Jonathan joins from Avison Young, where he was a Director for over seven years. He brings substantial expertise in rent reviews, lease renewals and regears, acting for a wide range of institutional landlord and tenant clients in the retail and leisure sectors. Jonathan also has considerable dispute resolution experience, being on the RICS Chairman’s panel of independent experts and arbitrators and regularly acting as an expert witness in arbitrations and independent expert determinations.

Based at the partnership’s London office, Jonathan will play a key role in growing the partnership’s activity in this area as part of its Commercial and Agency department. Alongside client delivery, he will support the development of colleagues, reinforcing the firm’s investment in the next generation of specialists during a period of continued growth.

Rob Lawson, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “With the rebasing of historically high rents, and an uptick in tenant demand, we are seeing rental growth at rent review and
lease renewals for retail warehousing. Client demand for specialist consultancy in this area continues to grow, and Jonathan’s technical expertise, market insight and experience mean we are in a stronger position to add value long-term.”

Jonathan Essex, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Montagu Evans’ collaborative approach and ability to deliver high-quality cross-service advice clearly support clients in navigating complex lease negotiations and identifying new opportunities. Joining at this exciting time for the partnership offers a great opportunity to contribute to a growing team, alongside investment and agent colleagues, as well as lease advisory specialists.”

Montagu Evans has welcomed its 2025 Early Careers Cohort, bringing three new apprentices and sixteen graduates into the partnership.

This year’s graduates are Chante Bynoe-Gittens, Jai Chaudhry, Hannah Fraser, Rose Glassey, Archie Howells, Annie Johnson, Jack Lewis, Monty Littler, Milli Mahil, Lila Millard, Justin Parker, Lizzie Quail, Dhriti Shekar, Aaron Singh, Bella Turton, and Alastair Wilkinson. The apprentices are Kcee Cameron-Annikie, Destiny Gerry and Adam Saci.

Of this number, Justin Parker and Aaron Singh have completed three of their five-year apprentice journey and now move on to the business’s graduate rotation scheme. Destiny Gerry originally worked with Montagu Evans through the firm’s partnership with Pathways to Property at Henley Business School before securing an apprenticeship place. Jai Chaudhry, Jack Lewis and Alistair Wilkinson all joined the firm as interns before securing their graduate positions.

Recruits will gain experience across key areas of the business, with planning, advisory and agency roles all represented and a particular focus on the firm’s conviction areas: Residential, Public Sector, Industrial & Logistics, and Central London.

Through structured rotations, mentoring and professional development support across Montagu Evans’ London and Manchester offices, they will develop the skills and knowledge to build long-term careers within the industry.

Alan Harris, Managing Partner of Montagu Evans, said: “Developing future talent remains a priority for the partnership. As we put in place a strong growth agenda for the years ahead, empowering and developing our people will remain at the heart of our business. That begins with our Early Careers Cohort. Through graduate and apprenticeship pathways and our wider outreach work, we are proud to welcome individuals from a range of backgrounds and specialisms. Their fresh perspectives will add real value to our clients and our business.”

Montagu Evans is proud to announce that the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved our net-zero targets validated under the SBTi Corporate Net Zero Criteria Standard. This marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to climate action and reduce the environmental impacts of our business activities.

SBTi provides the only framework for corporates to set verifiable net-zero targets in line with climate science. This approval aligns us with the ambitious goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, in accordance with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.

Our targets include:

Near-term science-based targets

• Reducing our absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions 42% by 2030 from a FY 2024 base year.
• Reducing our absolute scope 3 emissions 25% within the same timeframe.

Long-term science-based targets (net zero targets)

• Reducing our absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions 90% by 2050 from the 2023/24 base year.
• Reducing our absolute scope 3 emissions 90% within the same timeframe.

Next steps

By joining the growing number of companies with SBTi-approved targets, Montagu Evans is positioning its business strategy with global efforts to decarbonise the economy. Furthermore, it also demonstrates Montagu Evans’s climate leadership.

Montage Evans will publish its annual footprint, actions taken and progress towards meeting its net zero science-based targets with its annual Corporate Responsibility Report. This demonstrates our net zero commitment and encourages our stakeholders to kick-start their decarbonisation, which is crucial for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

We have developed and published a carbon reduction plan showcasing our actions to achieve net zero emissions. Now that our science-based targets are validated, we will be updating and revising the plan to align with these targets by the end of this year.

 

Montagu Evans has appointed senior business rates specialist Myles O’Brien as a Partner in its Rating Advisory team, further strengthening its capability for occupiers leading up to the 2026 revaluation.

Currently President of the Rating Surveyors’ Association, O’Brien joins from WSP GL Hearn, where he was Head of London (Business Rates) & Valuer Operations, leading a 30-strong team across the retail, industrial, office and leisure sectors. With over 25 years of experience in business rates strategy across complex portfolios, his experience also extends across a number of specialist areas including leisure, the media and film studios.

At Montagu Evans, O’Brien will head up the occupier sub-team, focusing on bulk and specialist instructions across both private and public sectors and offering rating appeal, mitigation and consultancy advice to clients who incur rate liabilities as an operational expense. Working with Partners Richard Wackett and Ian Clark, he has a mandate to build on occupier growth, particularly in London as part of Montagu Evans’ enhanced multi-service offer to clients across the capital. The hire aligns with the partnership’s plans to expand its Rating Advisory services nationally and follows the appointment of Julie Chalmers as Partner in Manchester earlier this year. Ben Monk leads the national Rating Advisory landlord sub-team.

Josh Myerson, Head of Advisory at Montagu Evans and head of its Rating Advisory team, said: “Appointing Myles is part of our continued investment in high-calibre talent and wider strategy to provide market-leading insight and support across advisory disciplines, with a focus on helping clients anticipate and act on the property-related risks and opportunities ahead.

“Business rates are a significant occupational issue, particularly leading into the 2026 revaluation. We are now in an even stronger position to support our clients in understanding and managing that cost: Myles’ occupier experience and strategic thinking will be a great asset as he comes in to lead this area of our business.”

Myles O’Brien, Partner at Montagu Evans, added: “This is an exciting time. Montagu Evans’ focus on specialist support for clients, its partnership structure, and opportunities for progression are incredibly appealing. I’m also drawn to the firm’s ambition to grow its private sector relationships, complementing its established strength in the public sector. I look forward to working with an already highly respected, industry-recognised team to lead and expand our occupier-focused instructions – deepening relationships with existing clients and opening the door to new opportunities.”

Myles is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Leisure Property Forum (LPF) and Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV). He is an elected committee member of the Rating Surveyors’ Association and, since April 2025, has been its President.

Montagu Evans’ handbook for businesses on the 2026 revaluation released this week – and what they should be doing now to prepare for the 1 April – can be viewed and downloaded here.

Montagu Evans has appointed Jonathan Stevenson as Partner to lead its Residential Capital Markets team, as the firm continues to expand its integrated Residential:Connected offer.

Previously Head of BTR and funding at Knight Frank, Stevenson brings a wealth of experience advising clients, such as CBRE IM, on its first BTR acquisition in Manchester and working on projects across the UK, including the largest BTR scheme, The Octagon in Birmingham. At Montagu Evans, he will focus on leading and growing investment, development, and funding advice across Build-to-Rent, PBSA assets, and emerging Co-Living and Later Living sectors.

Stevenson will work alongside the firm’s 80+ specialists to support clients at every stage of the development lifecycle, drawing on Montagu Evans’ expertise.

This appointment forms part of a wider growth strategy under the new Managing Partner, Alan Harris, supported by a multi-million-pound capital investment in 2024 to strengthen high-growth areas, including Residential, Central London, Industrial & Logistics, and Public Sector.

Adrian Owen, Partner and head of Residential at Montagu Evans, said: “Our strengthened residential offer, now in place, with 80+ experts, is a genuine, firm-wide, integrated service centred on planning, development, consultancy and transactional expertise, and with a sharp focus on addressing our clients’ challenges and needs.

“Jonny’s appointment strengthens our Living Capital markets capability and will play a key role in helping clients unlock value and deliver across an increasingly active sector.”

Jonathan Stevenson, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “This is an exciting and unique opportunity to build a differentiated Residential Capital Markets team within a firm that combines deep planning expertise, a strong development track record, and a genuinely collaborative culture.”

Montagu Evans has appointed Catharine Kidd as a Partner in its Historic Environment and Townscape (HEaT) team, based at the partnership’s Edinburgh office and strengthening its planning and heritage offer to support further growth across Scotland and the north of England.

Catharine joins from Turley, where she spent eight years as Director of Heritage and Townscape, leading the successful development of its Heritage and Townscape service in Scotland and expanding its cross-office capabilities across Edinburgh, London, and Manchester. She brings significant expertise across UK regional markets, with a particular focus on heritage, townscape and visual impact assessments (TVIA), as well as experience in EIA and team development.

At Montagu Evans, she will play a key role in growing the partnership’s presence in Scotland and the north of England and enhancing the firm’s planning and heritage capabilities across the country. Her specialist skillset, cross-service approach and market knowledge align with the firm’s ambitions to expand its Scottish operations and further strengthen its planning capability for existing national and local client bases.

Craig Wallace, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “There is a growing market for heritage and townscape services in Scotland, as well as the north of England and Northern Ireland, particularly when complemented with townscape and visual impact advice to inform development design and planning strategy. Catharine is a pioneer and market leader in this specialist area, with longstanding expertise and a collaborative approach that makes her an important strategic hire for our planning team in Scotland and the wider business.

“She joins a number of new recruits joining our expanding planning team in Scotland, including Katherine Innes as Senior Planner, Matt Short as Planner and Frank Trimble as Graduate. In London, we have also recently welcomed historic environment expert Emma Lawrence.”

Catharine Kidd, Partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Joining Montagu Evans at this time is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a growing team with the ability to provide a wide range of planning skills to support clients – including on new development, strategic advice on historic town and city-centre renewal, the adaptation and re-use of historic and listed buildings, masterplanning, and regeneration of complex sites and sensitive land.

“Managing change of sensitive areas effectively needs in-depth expertise of heritage assets and/or urban contexts, combined with development knowledge of building and land uses, legislation, the planning system and development contexts, and a collaborative approach to working with design teams and stakeholders. I’m looking forward to working with team members and service lines across the firm to overcome challenges and optimise outcomes for clients.”

Montagu Evans advises public and private sector clients across Scotland, including development, valuation, rating, lease advisory activity, as well as planning,  heritage and townscape. Key planning roles and projects include Scotland’s first Center Parcs, Haventus Ardersier Port, Rosebery House at Haymarket and Haymarket itself, Quartermile, the Royal High School in Edinburgh, The Àrd – Glasgow’s tallest building, and numerous roles for Scottish universities.

Qualis Commercial, advised by Montagu Evans, has sold the Waltham Connect industrial estate in Waltham Abbey to a private investor.

The new build estate was completed in September 2024 and totals 32,750 sq ft across four high-specification units ranging from 5,958 sq ft to 10,157 sq ft.

Each building offers 8.85m clear internal height, a level access loading door, ground floor reception space and first floor offices. 10+ car parking spaces are provided per unit, including 2 EV charging points per unit, with provision for more. It has been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and EPC A+ certifications with sustainability features, including rooftop PV panels.

The estate is located two miles from J26 of the M25 and three miles from the A10. Waltham Cross station connecting with Liverpool Street and Stratford is also three miles away, and the scheme is served by bus routes to Walthamstow, Chingford and Harlow.

Montagu Evans has been retained as the leasing agent for the estate under the new name of Abbey Trade Park.

Tom Paton-Smith, Partner and head of Montagu Evans’ industrial and logistics team, said: “This is a well-located, high-quality commercial development, addressing the shortage of new build, ESG-compliant units in the area. It is particularly attractive given strong appetite from the trade sector for these more affordable fringe locations and that each unit has been designed flexibly, with these types of businesses in mind.”

More on that opportunity here.