Bilfinger GVA poaches planning staff in Manchester

Planning consultancy Bilfinger GVA has appointed four new planners in its Manchester office as part of a restructuring of its North West business.

The firm has poached three staff from rival consultancy Knight Frank in the city, including Richard Walters, partner and head of planning at the firm.

His is joined by colleagues Matthew Claxton and Alice Routledge, along with Hollie Bryant, who joins as a senior planner from consultancy Pegasus.

International head of property development consultancy at Bilfinger GVA, Gerry Hughes, told Planning: “This is part of a wider investment plan across the UK as well as a move to focus our North West business to concentrate on higher value town planning work than in the past. We will be doing more for the private sector.”

He said that the plan involved doubling the number of people in the Manchester team to around 22 staff.

Before working at Knight Frank, Walters was partner at Gerald Eve, and previous worked as an associate at consultancy RPS.

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