Three of the North-East’s most experienced commercial professionals have joined forces to form what they claim is the region’s largest specialist niche commercial agency.
Connect Property North East (CPNE) — covering the Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire — was created when Jonathan Simpson and Andrew Wilkinson teamed up with the firm’s founder Tim Carter.
The three chartered surveyors, who have more than 45 years’ combined experience between them, already have an enviable client list that includes developers City & Northern, pan-European multi-let real estate asset manager M7, UK Land Estates, regeneration specialist St Modwen, LaSalle Investment Management, Dunedin, Opus Land, South Street Capital and business park owner Mandale.
One of CPNE’s newest clients is Clearbell. The agency will provide occupational and agency advice for the private real estate fund manager’s £25m Lingfield mixed-use scheme at Darlington.
Wilkinson, who has transacted more than £100m worth of sales and acquisitions during his career, moved to Connect Property after 18 years at Sanderson Weatherall as a partner heading up the retail and investment departments in its Teesside office. He has been involved with the majority of the North-East’s shopping centre and retail regeneration projects including the Pavilion Shopping Centre, Thornaby, and Billingham Town Centre.
“I take great comfort from the fact that the three of us have survived one of the toughest recessionary periods by continually adapting to market conditions and delivering sound property advice, derived from our personal experiences,” he said.
“I am fired up by the opportunities, which lie ahead and am confident that our rounded team approach will allow us to continue to provide a first rate and professional service through Connect Property North East.”
After eight years as a partner leading Sanderson Weatherall’s Teesside commercial agency, Simpson admitted he was excited to be a part of the new venture. “My ambition has always been to be the master of my own destiny. To be able to do this with two long terms friends and colleagues makes this extra special.
“I believe that the timing is perfect and the three of us have complementary skills to enable Connect Property North East to offer an unrivalled service in the industrial, office, retail and investment sectors,” said Simpson, who has also been an associate partner working at GVA in its national industrial and logistics division.
Story: Cliff Goodwin
Photo: Bigstock
