Property agent FPD Savills has acquired specialist retail planning consultancy Planning Development Consultancy (PDC).
Established three years ago, Manchester-based PDC has grown into a seven-strong consultancy specialising in the retail parks sector.
PDC, which will be based at FPD Savills' Manchester office, will complement the property agent's existing planning team. PDC director Stephen Hyland said: 'The advantage is there is an established team working together here.' PDC founder Jeremy Hinds will become FPD Savills head of planning.
PDC's clients represent a roll call of some of the UK's largest retail warehouse developers, landlords and fund owners, including Land Securities, Legal & General, Hammerson, Henderson, Helical Bar, Hermes, ING Real Estate and Prudential.
Similarly, such retailers as Asda, Au Naturale, B&Q, Matalan, Pets at Home, Sports World and Toys R Us have relied on PDC's skills to vary planning conditions, utilise existing consents and gain approval for new builds.
PDC has also advised retail parks trade body Accessible Retail, which has sought to sway Government attitudes to the retail warehousing sector in the wake of new planning controls over mezzanines and retail property development.
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