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Plan to boost Plymouth economy by £1bn and create thousands of jobs

2025-09-20 17:48:08 By

Plymouth has revealed an ambitious new plan to create 8,000 jobs, construct 10,000 homes and establish a thousand businesses. The fresh economic strategy from Plymouth City Council also aims to revitalise 50 vacant buildings and reduce the number of derelict structures in the city centre by half.

It also aims to tackle the 25% of Plymouth's workforce currently economically inactive, with a goal of getting 5,000 people back into the job market, enticing people to relocate to the city, and creating higher paying jobs as city wages remain significantly below the national average. Ultimately, the strategy seeks to bolster the city's economy by £1bn over the next 10 years.

The new economic strategy delivery plan outlines 55 projects, some already in progress, that Plymouth City Council believes will transform this vision into reality. These include the recently-formed Growth Alliance Plymouth – a collaboration between the council, Babcock and the Royal Navy, working alongside Government departments to leverage the Government's £4.4bn investment in defence at Devonport Naval Base.

Other initiatives aim to boost Plymouth's marine sector, such as establishing a centre of expertise for robotic vessels. Additional projects include designating Devonport as a "creative cluster", supporting floating offshore wind developments, expanding the city's night-time economy, aiding the tech sector and fortifying supply chains.

The city's goals are to create 8,000 new jobs and build 10,000 new homes, reports Plymouth Live.

The city also aims to create 1,000 new businesses, adding to the current 6,300 small businesses. It also plans to assist individuals without qualifications, with a goal to reduce the 10.7% of residents who lack formal qualifications.

The plan includes lifting at least 3,000 people in Plymouth out of poverty and helping 5,000 people find employment, addressing the 25% of working-age individuals who are economically inactive. The strategy also seeks to increase Plymouth's productivity by raising the GVA per filled job from £44,930 to £55,000.

Additionally, it aims to bring 50 vacant buildings back into use and halve the number of derelict buildings in the city centre. The plan also includes creating a highly skilled workforce, increasing the percentage of residents with RQT level 4+ qualifications from 38.9% to 45.7%.

The city also aims to reduce carbon emissions and become a carbon net zero city by 2030, and increase local engagement in cultural, heritage and sport activities. Central to the plan is ensuring the city has a "brilliant, motivated and qualified workforce" to meet the needs of Plymouth's businesses.

This involves collaborating with further and higher education organisations to develop sector-focused recruitment events, targeted support for economically inactive people and young people not in work or education, improving work experience opportunities across the city, and creating a construction workforce to address the shortage of skilled workers in the building industry.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: "This is truly a team effort. We all want to see the city's economy grow, but in a way that makes our residents feel they are part of this success story, to feel proud and part of where they live, to see their families housed and their children get the skills they need to thrive and prosper here in Plymouth.

"The best economic strategy takes people out of poverty: we are doing this to raise living standards and improve lives. Plymouth has long been called a city of potential and over the past 10 years we have made huge strides to realise that potential."

"We have worked with the Government and local partners to invest more than £900m in economic development projects. have delivered a City Deal, secured the South West's only Freeport, created the UK's first National Marine Park and opened one of the UK's most important cultural attractions: The Box.

"The job is far from done and we have even greater ambition for Plymouth and its citizens as we plan for the next 10 years of economic growth and prosperity."

Richard Stevens, chair of the Plymouth Growth Board, has expressed his commitment to the city's development. He said: "Plymouth has a strong history of delivering significant economic development and more than 20 partners across the city have all signed up to make sure we continue to press for growth, regeneration and initiatives focused on improving residents' lives.

"The strategy is a great reminder of the incredible work that goes on in every corner of our city and of the breadth of what Plymouth's businesses offer the region and the country. This is about making sure we maximise every opportunity and do all we can to ensure they flourish."

Plymouth City Council is ensuring it has a "top team" to lead various strategic areas – referred to as pillars – with cabinet members set to receive updates from key figures such as James McKenzie Blackman of the Theatre Royal, Lindsey Hall from Real Ideas, and Richard Davies and Jenny Milligan from the University of Plymouth. They will discuss their involvement in promoting civic pride and regeneration, addressing the challenges posed by a tight labour market and an aging population, and the need to attract new residents, students, and workers to the city.

Productive growth and high-value jobs are crucial to ensure that training meets the needs of employers in our higher value sector. Quality jobs equate to higher living standards.

Plymouth's average pay is still more than £6,000 below the national average of £33,279. Boosting productivity is essential for improving prosperity for all residents, and supporting higher value sectors will help raise wages, create more productive jobs, attract new businesses and investment.

Inclusive Growth is about fostering a prosperous economy that reduces inequality, is sustainable and serves the wellbeing of local people. Approximately 35% of working-age people are economically inactive due to long-term sickness.

Too many individuals struggle to access work and educational opportunities that would enable them to secure higher value jobs.

Sustainable Growth refers to growth that does not harm the environment, promotes social inclusion, well-being and helps to drive a green economic revolution. Plymouth has strengths in the 'blue' or marine sectors, with many robust businesses within this sector, many of which are at the forefront of economic development.

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Market town mill and warehouse could get 'Gloucester Docks style' revamp

Blueprints are being drawn up to breathe new life into a historic Gloucestershire market town mill and warehouse, currently described as a "sad eyesore". The Borough Flour Mills in Tewkesbury, also known as Healing's Flour Mills, situated on Quay Street by the River Avon, has been showing signs of neglect in recent years. The site boasts a rich milling heritage. Historic England notes that early 13th Century records refer to the location as the town mills. The 1825 town map depicts mill structures on the site. By 1865, Samuel Healing had taken ownership of the mill, transforming it into a steam-powered roller mill. In its heyday in 1892, Healing's Flour Mill was hailed as the country's largest and most technologically advanced flour mill, capable of producing up to 25 sacks of flour per hour. The Archer Daniels Midland Company acquired the site in 2003. In 2017, the then owners, Corbally Group Ltd—a subsidiary of the St Francis Group—put the site up for sale. The complex is now derelict. But Tewkesbury Borough Council leaders have now revealed they are in discussions with the site's proprietors. The site could undergo a transformation akin to that of Gloucester Docks, albeit on a smaller scale. The council envisions the area becoming a destination that draws both tourists and locals. Council Leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) said: "That whole waterfront has such a potential to become an asset for the town. Healing's Mill is such an important part of that." "The mill itself has an interesting history and it revived the fortunes of the town when it was originally built. "It has got the potential to help secure the town's future in attracting visitors, if we get this right." During the recent full council meeting held on March 18, when the mill was discussed, Cllr Mike Styzmiack (Independent, Tewkesbury North and Twyning) queried the status of efforts to rejuvenate the site, noting that approximately £17,000 had been spent on safety measures in the past two years. He said: "Healing's Mill has been shut for many years, and despite there being meetings every six weeks with the developers, there's been nothing to show the public regarding any improvement or progress on the site. The only thing people see is the blatant deterioration of the building which has become a sad eyesore to both visitors and residents alike. "When are the public going to be engaged and shown what is planned for the site?" Cllr Stanley said he has had multiple meetings with officers and met with the developers. He said: "There have been discussions around us potentially buying some of the ground floor level of Healing's Mill. "I appreciate from residents' view they haven't seen a change as yet but to reassure you there are changes afoot and there will be things in due course we can share. "That fantastic mill is going to be a huge asset to our town and will be utilised. So I share your ambition." Cllr Stymiack said: "The public are fed up with having to look at such an unloved and yet historic, derelict and unsafe building. But it has great potential to bring jobs, dwellings and business to the town." He queried whether the council would consider compulsory purchase, which Cllr Stanley did not rule out. "I make this sincere commitment about seeing that site brought forward," he said. "I want to see Healing's Mill as a real centre which draws people into the town. There is the opportunity with the new designer outlet village that we are going to have more people visiting on our doorstep."

City centre retail block sold

A prime retail and leisure building in Birmingham city centre has been sold in a £4 million deal. Temple Buildings, a part grade II-listed property on the corner of New Street and Temple Street, has been acquired from Hortons by a private investor. The complex comprises two adjoining properties, 49-50A New Street and 19-20 Temple Street, which together total 10,055 sq ft. The ground floor units are let to clothing retailer Moss Bros, Ryman stationers, bubble tea café T4 and Everyman Barbers. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. The upper floors of 19-20 Temple Street are let to Vogues Holdings for residential use. Birmingham-based agency MK2 Real Estate sold the building on behalf of Hortons. Director Mark Johnson said: "Despite the economic challenges over the last few years, Birmingham's retail and leisure market has remained resilient, with positive levels of take up and tenant demand. "Temple Buildings sits on the main thoroughfare from Grand Central to the Colmore Business District and the popular bars and restaurants in the area, with high footfall and passing trade as a result." Steve Tommy, head of asset management with Hortons, added: "The disposal of Temple Buildings is part of our ongoing strategy to reinvest in both existing and new projects within the industrial sector."

New £6.5m North Tyneside industrial scheme set for market

Industrial space at a new £6.35m development in North Tyneside is now on the market after being completed by UK Land Estates. Regional property developer and landlord UK Land Estates broke ground on the huge L7 scheme last summer, amid moves to tap into demand for industrial space. The speculative development has created 73,000sqft of hi-spec industrial and distribution space at the North Tyneside site, and forms part of a £35m investment programme across the firm’s regional business space portfolio. Brandon Bailey, projects director at UK Land Estates, said: “With a shortage of vacant, high-quality industrial space across the UK, we do not see L7 as a risk. In fact, we are really looking forward to bringing it to market as we expect a great deal of interest. “It’s one of a number of projects under way that is strengthening our portfolio, but particularly at the Tyne Tunnel Estate, where we are investing £11m in L7, the recent completion of the refurbishment of the former JTF Discount Warehouse building, several smaller C-units and we recently started refurb of another large industrial unit on the site.” Construction of L7 has been led by STP Construction Limited, with the local supply chain including Thompsons of Prudhoe, Philadelphia Structures, CCS Cladding, Mathew Charlton, ME Electrics and Voltz power services, and design partners including Faulkner Browns, Portland Consulting Engineers and Kinetic Engineers. The development has delivered 72,898sq ft of flexible industrial and/or warehousing, including 5,955sq ft of office space, and will be marketed by Knight Frank and Savills. David Gibbs, property director at UK Land Estates, said: “This estate is in a fantastic location, close to the main arterial road network and port services. Proximity to workforce and high density housing makes the building an attractive proposition for both manufacturing or distribution. Delivering quality buildings for business on core estates remains our main focus and we have every confidence the building will be well received. “We’re confident L7 will generate plenty of interest, but it won’t be the only large-scale project on the site and we’re progressing several options to deliver further projects of this size and larger, attracting businesses and creating employment opportunities in North Tyneside.

Plans unveiled for new £100m Digbeth scheme

A former ironworks site in Birmingham city centre could be transformed into a new £100 million mixed-use development. Hartwell, the automotive and property development company, has unveiled its proposals for the old Phoenix ironworks off Digbeth High Street which will be led by 240 new residential units. Called Phoenix Yard, the designs also include 260,000 sq ft of media and educational space, commercial floorspace, retail units, public realm and landscaping. The brownfield plot, which covers 2.8 acres and sits next to the new Eastside tram extension connected to the HS2 station, is bordered by Coventry Street, Oxford Street and Meriden Street. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Hartwell said Phoenix Yard could create around 200 construction jobs and has the potential to deliver more than 500 full-time equivalent jobs. Architecture practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris has designed the scheme which Hartwell said paid homage to the land’s industrial history as Phoenix ironworks. The application site is now occupied by a children’s nursery and was home to South & City College and more recently Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse innovation facility before it moved to a new development in Belmont Row. Hartwell, which owns the land, was founded in 1919 and also previously ran a garage there. A public consultation has now been opened into the proposals which runs until the end of March ahead of a planning application being submitted to Birmingham City Council. The project would join a long list of new developments currently in the pipeline for the Digbeth area including the Beorma Quarter opposite Selfridges and the neighbouring Stone Yard and Tower Leaf schemes, also off High Street. Elsewhere in the district, the BBC is revamping the former Typhoo factory to create a new home for its West Midlands teams currently based in the Mailbox and the Smithfield project will revamp the old Wholesale Markets site near the Bullring. Joanne Churchill, group property manager of Hartwell, said: "We are delighted to unveil our vision to transform an under-utilised brownfield site to deliver Phoenix Yard. "Through unlocking the potential of this site, our plans promise to positively contribute to the area’s ongoing transformation into a thriving and vibrant part of Birmingham, delivering an exciting range of new opportunities and living space for the future. "In recent years, Digbeth has benefitted from significant investment and is recognised by Birmingham City Council as a key growth area. This scheme has been designed with this investment and the wider ambitions for Birmingham in mind. "The potential delivery of media and educational space will support the continuing growth of BBC Midlands HQ and its ecosystem following its multimillion-pound investment into the area. "Similarly, new homes will complement the site’s location in Digbeth’s creative centre. "This will be supported by excellent connectivity, which is enhanced by nearby major transport investments including HS2’s Curzon Street Station and the Metro Eastside Extension. "We look forward to receiving comments on the proposals from local residents and businesses, with feedback set to help inform our final planning application."

Warrington building to be transformed into digital hub

Good progress is being made on the transformation of a building on one of Warrington's busiest roads into a digital enterprise hub. A report being presented to the council's cabinet for its Monday meeting includes an update on the project at St James Business Centre, located on Wilderspool Causeway. The quarter three review of non-treasury investments says the business centre will house Warrington's first digital enterprise hub, with work well underway to renovate and upgrade the building to suit this new economy sector. It stated: "The new roof is already in place along with restrooms and remodelled interiors. The entrance to the building will be changed to have more presence on Wilderspool Causeway, which will also benefit from a new café." The report added: "This new workspace will provide an excellent environment for digital businesses to collaborate and grow, and has already been the subject of interest from several established businesses in this sector."

Plans for £170m skyscraping Newcastle hotel, housing and leisure development unveiled

Plans to create a £170m project aiming to take Newcastle to new heights have been unveiled at the world’s biggest property conference. Images show a huge 29-storey residential tower, alongside a new hotel at the site of the former Premier Inn hotel in Newcastle, as well as new bars and restaurants, creating a new gateway into the city. Gainford Group – owner of North East prime properties including the Vermont and County Hotels, Aveika and Livello – first snapped up the former Premier Inn building on New Bridge Street six years ago, and launched straight into plans to transform the tired-looking site. The leisure, care and property group was forced to pause the plans in light of the pandemic, but began redrawing their proposals in 2022, teasing images to envisage a huge 37-storey tower, combining a hotel, housing, a conference centre and a gym, as well as leisure venues. Those plans have now been revised by Chester-le-Street based Gainford Group, who enlisted FaulknerBrowns Architects to draw up stunning imagery to show how the New Bridge Project could dominate the Newcastle skyline, with the reduced residential tower now sitting alongside a separate hotel building. The New Bridge Project has now been shown on the world stage at Mipim, the real estate conference taking place in Cannes, France, which brings together developers, investors and property professionals from all over the world. A presentation and discussion has been held to promote the new development, including panel members Ben Sykes, partner at Killingworth based FaulknerBrowns; Michelle Percy, director of investment and growth at Newcastle City Council; Tariq Albassam, director of operations at NE1; and Sarah Green, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative. They said the New Bridge Project aims to completely transform an important piece of Newcastle city centre, alongside work which is currently regenerating the East Pilgrim Street area where the new HMRC building is being constructed close to the new Hotel Gotham and Newcastle Stack at Worswick Chambers. Better pedestrian links and a new gateway to the historic Market Street are included in the plans, which will link to the new HMRC development, Blackett Street and Northumberland Street improvements. The design proposes a new skyscraping residential building providing 185 new homes and a new 150-bedroom hotel is also included, alongside new bars and restaurants and a health club. While Gainford Group currently operates a number of hotel around Newcastle city centre it has yet to be decided if it would run this latest hotel or seek to bring in a leisure brand to manage and operate the property. Director Imran Khaliq said the firm’s proposals had been altered to lift the residential housing and hotel off the ground, creating a new-look leisure area. He said: “Gainford is looking forward to this exciting new project which introduces a brand new gateway into Newcastle city centre. Gainford is championing Newcastle on the world stage at Mipim and is committed to Newcastle’s global ambitions – and sponsorship of InvestNewcastle at Mipim 2025 reflects that dedication. “We believe in the power of public and private partnership to shape vibrant, sustainable local communities through our major regeneration projects and hospitality ventures. We are proud to create a leading part in the driving force of Newcastle’s growth. Together we are building a city that is not only a destination but a hub for investment, innovation and opportunity.” Public and private sector organisations have come together to showcase investment opportunities in Newcastle at Mipim. Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), is leading the delegation in Cannes, in the south of France, working with a range of partners to highlight some of the area’s main developments.

Plymouth University grads help design new business school with 'mini Wall Street'

A group of University of Plymouth graduates has helped design a new business school with a 'mini Wall Street'. The £14.5m Fitzroy Building has office and teaching facilities, and houses the university's in-house entrepreneur support service The Cube. With input from key stakeholders, improvements were largely facilitated by graduates from the very faculty that the building will now support – Arts, Humanities and Business. Shelley Oliver, originally from Falmouth and currently living in Exeter, took the helm in the architectural design of the Fitzroy Building. The recently promoted Associate Architect said: "There were many hours of work creating technical drawings and fine tuning the design alongside the other key design team members, to make sure we had a building that adhered to the current regulations and could actually be constructed on site. There were a few setbacks with uncovering unforeseen elements during the demolition stage, least not the hidden air raid shelter right under where the extension was meant to go. "I had an amazing experience studying at Plymouth on a highly-rated architecture course, and it was a real full circle moment to come back as a qualified architect and see everything again. I've been in touch with the course about sharing my experience with current students, and it's brilliant to pay it forward." Pam Frost, the Capital Projects Manager from the University of Plymouth who led the project, was involved from the start. "[I was involved] at the beginning, with the vacation of the old Fitzroy building – during which I managed the installation of the first in Nikon Microscope lab in Europe," she said. "I also had to consider the people and equipment expected to come over from Cookworthy, the previous home of the business school." Rachel Goodsell, Head of Operations in the University's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, has worked with the school for around 15 years and is also a proud alumni who graduated with an MA in Personnel and Development. Her job was to make sure the new building met the needs of staff and students, and she said it was "fantastic" seeing the project come to life. "The highlight is when you have an amazing end product after being involved in the project for years and being able to show off what a great refurbished facility it is," she said. Dr Ben Siu, Lecturer in Marketing and Associate Head of School for Marketing and Admissions, played a pivotal role in ensuring student feedback was integral to the building's design. After completing his undergraduate degree in Marketing at the same university, he pursued a master's degree and then a PhD. Dr David Adkins, Associate Head of Postgraduate Programmes within the Business School, also contributed to the project's steering group and shared insights from his experiences. He completed his BSc (Hons) in Maritime Business and pursued a PhD before taking up a teaching role. He added: "I remember studying and then teaching in the old Cookworthy and Fitzroy buildings, before being based at another remote campus near the Barbican. I've had so many more serendipitous meetings now that we're based in the heart of the campus and the building has such a positive feel to it. "Business feeds into every other discipline in life, so it'll be great to meet even more staff and students across the campus and have some great collaborations take place."

Humber property firm Clark Weightman snapped up by national group Sanderson Weatherall

A Hull property consultancy has been snapped up by national business Sanderson Weatherall to expand its regional presence. Clark Weightman, Hessle-based chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants, has become the 11th UK office for its new owners and it will maintain its name to trade as Clark Weightman, part of Sanderson Weatherall. The acquisition has been made to bolsters Sanderson Weatherall's presence in the Humber, East Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire regions, including the key port locations of Hull and Grimsby. The move also expands the firm's service offering to clients across various sectors. The Clark Weightman founders all previously worked for a regional firm before establishing the business, which has over 25 years of experience in the regional property market, with expertise in agency, business rates, property management, lease consultancy, valuation, healthcare, dispute resolution and public sector consultancy. David Rastrick, COO at Sanderson Weatherall said: “We are delighted to welcome Clark Weightman to the Sanderson Weatherall family. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision to further solidify our position as a leading SME in the property industry, with a strong local and regional presence. “Sanderson Weatherall, a certified B Corp, has established high standards for environmental and social impact, and a robust approach to governance. This has made the firm an attractive partnership option when you also consider the benefits that come from economies of scale for smaller companies concerned about the increasing financial burden and mandatory requirements, which continue to be introduced and implemented by Government and regulatory bodies.” Andrew Clark, director at Clark Weightman, added: “We recognise the growth opportunities in our region and are excited to join forces with Sanderson Weatherall, a highly regarded and well-established firm with national reach. This partnership will allow us to leverage their B Corp status and other accreditations, enabling us to offer our clients a broader range of services and expertise. It will also create exciting new professional development opportunities for our employees. “There will be no change in our personnel with myself, Simon Weightman and Carl Bradley joining as partners and other staff members continuing in their existing roles.” Mr Bradley added: “This is an exciting time for me and the Clark Weightman team. We have enjoyed a good working relationship with Sanderson Weatherall over recent years on a number of successful joint agency instructions and look forward to building that relationship in the future now that we have joined forces and become part of their business. I am sure our clients will share that excitement and will benefit from our expert local market knowledge whilst being part of a larger national consultancy.” Mr Weightman added: “This is the result of 12 months of active positive discussions which has resulted in the merger of our two firms. I’ve known some of the Partners of Sanderson Weatherall for many years, having graduated with Dan Hardy and Andrew Ellis back in 1989. I can’t wait to introduce my current and future clients to our wider range of services that this national consultancy can provide.”

Plans for 145 new homes in Old Trafford to replace warehouse and bakery

Plans for the construction of 145 homes on the site of a former wholesale warehouse and bakery in Old Trafford are likely to be approved at Trafford's planning committee meeting on Thursday. The proposed development, which will replace buildings previously occupied by trader Valitus Ltd and the Jesse Oldfield Bakery, includes a residential-led mixed-use scheme, community space, car parking, and landscaping. The project, proposed by YC Property Group Ltd, will be situated on a three-acre brownfield site on Brixham Road and will comprise 123 apartments and 22 terraced houses, with 40% designated as affordable housing. Additional features include a corner shop at the junction of Brixham Road and Ayres Road, 'local areas of play', and a series of interconnected communal gardens. Private amenity spaces will be provided through gardens, terraces, and balconies. Vehicle access to the site will be from both Ayres Road and Brixham Road, with courtyard parking available. The apartments will be distributed across four separate blocks fronting onto Ayres Road and Brixham Road, while four rows of terraced housing are planned for the south-western part of the site. A report by Trafford planning officers, who have extensively consulted with the applicant, recommends approval of the plans. The application has encountered opposition, with 10 letters of objection submitted by local groups including the Old Trafford Amateur Gardeners' Society (OTAGS) representing Seymour Grove Allotments and Orchard 49. The objectors have raised concerns about the potential construction impacts, such as dust generation affecting plant cultivation, possible food contamination, and soil damage. Some are calling for restrictions on construction hours to avoid noise pollution at evenings and weekends and have specified that any beehive relocation should occur only in winter, with compensation provided for any property damages incurred. One objection highlighted the importance of allotments, stating: "Allotments must be protected and cherished. They are of huge value to the local community and positive for physical and mental wellbeing." The planning report advises the committee to approve the project on the condition that the developer contributes £318,562 towards off-site affordable housing, £29,926 for open space provision, £219,936 for secondary education in the area, and pays £15,000 for a traffic regulation order review. The report argues that "The delivery of 145 new homes – including 40% affordable – on a sustainable brownfield site which would contribute significantly towards the delivery of housing within the borough would be of benefit. "This is of considerable importance, given the aspiration of both the council and the Government to significantly boost housing delivery. Substantial weight is attached to this benefit."

Property agency opens new Birmingham office

A commercial building, project and sustainability consultancy has opened a Birmingham office in response to demand for its services in the region. This is the first Midlands office for Jones Hargreaves and is led by associate partners Jack Birchall and Harry McDermott who have relocated to the city from the firm's London operation. They will work with a range of investors, owners and occupiers across industrial, retail and office portfolios from their new home in Somerset House, Temple Street. Mr Birchall has extensive experience in the commercial sector including dilapidations, tenant alterations and technical due diligence, having worked at Jones Hargreaves for three years. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Mr McDermott is an experienced building surveyor across all commercial property sectors, primarily focusing on technical due diligence, dilapidations, planned preventative maintenance and contract administration instructions. The new Birmingham office is opening in direct response to client demand, with ongoing instructions in the region from Indurent and Adapt Real Estate. It is also working with Gilbanks on the £2 million fitout of a new 20,000 sq ft serviced office space at Five St Phillips in the Colmore Business District. The new Birmingham base joins its portfolio of offices in Manchester, Leeds, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Cardiff and the firm now employs 40 staff. Mr Birchall said: "It's a privilege to have the opportunity to open our new Birmingham office and dive into the Midlands' thriving commercial property sector. "The city itself has seen a lot of growth in recent years and it's exciting to be part of that. "I was keen to relocate to Birmingham as it's a great city with so much to offer and this was the perfect time for me both professionally and personally. "This opportunity highlights the culture of the business and the trust in the team." Mr McDermott added: "Jack and I are very excited to be leading Jones Hargreaves' new office in the UK's second city. "We have a strong existing client base in and around Birmingham and across the Midlands and we're looking forward to building on that." Partner Matt Williams said: "This is our seventh office opening and aligns with our business expansion strategy to meet ever-increasing client demand for our commercial building consultancy and ESG services across the UK, particularly in the Midlands. "I'd like to extend my congratulations to Jack and Harry who I have no doubt will make a fantastic impression within the Midlands' burgeoning commercial property sector.