Built environment consultancy Ward Williams expands into five cities
Ward Williams has expanded into five UK cities. The Cornwall-based built environment consultancy will now also service clients from hubs in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Winchester and Oxford.
Senior partner, James Beckly, explained that the expansion reflects the increasing demand from Ward Williams’ property investment and asset management clients in both the public and private sectors for strategic advice, particularly in response to opportunities around regional devolution, economic development and regeneration, digitalisation and sustainability best practice.
"There is a much more buoyant market this year with a strong interest in economic growth and innovation,” he says.
The move constitutes a major expansion from the firm’s West Country roots, with Ward Williams completing several senior appointments to staff its new regional offices.
Regional leaders
The partnership’s Manchester office is being led by Tom Moore, whose expertise lies in complex estate management and sustainability-led investment planning across the North of England. Previously in senior roles in Manchester with AtkinsRealis, Faithful + Gould and Turner & Townsend, Moore brings more than 20 years’ experience in quantity and project surveying.
In Cardiff, the team is being led by Cardiff office lead Jon Whitehead, is a chartered surveyor with over 35 years of experience. Jon brings his experience in delivering complex, mixed use, large scale residential developments and also his knowledge in care village projects and maintenance frameworks.
In London, the arrival of Chris Jones as a partner adds further depth to the partnership’s capability offering. He brings over two decades of experience in viability modelling, masterplanning, development consultancy and estate regeneration, particularly in residential-led and mixed-use schemes.
Stephen Collis was also appointed earlier in the year to lead the Ward Williams strategic advisory team in the London office. A former Arcadis partner and sector lead in sports, leisure and wellbeing, Stephen brings a wealth of expertise from both public and private sector work, focusing on early-stage project decision-making and securing private equity investment into significant developments such as the Everton and Tottenham new stadia, Co-Op Live and Therme in Manchester.
Shifting offering
While Ward Williams is enjoying expansion, however, Beckly is conscious that clients are not facing such a positive outlook. With cost pressures, tightening regulations and tougher decisions, Ward Williams is shifting its focus to better support firms through these issues.
“As well as strengthening our local presence, deepening our sector expertise and making it easier for clients to get the right advice at the right time,” Beckly added. “We are now better positioned to help clients tackle questions around planning phased retrofit works, how to reposition or repurpose underperforming assets, and navigating regulatory changes. Our role is to help them make confident decisions, backed by sound analysis and a clear understanding of context."
