Essex estate and lettings agent expands with two acquisitions
Boydens, a Colchester-based estate and lettings agent, is acquiring two established businesses in the sector ahead of the new law which protects renters coming into force next month. It has bought Frinton-on-Sea-based block and estate management specialist Paul Bryan Chartered Surveyors and the lettings arm of Braintree-based Joscelyne Chase Property Consultants. Managing director Philip Boyden said: “These are two important strategic acquisitions for our business, further enhancing our successful block management and lettings divisions. The lettings industry is currently going through some of the biggest changes in a generation with the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, which takes effect from May 1st. We have invested in training and technology to ensure that we are leading the way in supporting landlords with these changes…”He added: “These acquisitions are part of our own exciting growth plans for Boydens and we anticipate making further announcements over the coming months.” Boydens, which has its 60th anniversary this year, has offices in Colchester, Kelvedon, Frinton-on-Sea and Sudbury.
Photo (l-r): Philip Boyden with Carol Rutherford and Andrew Woollcott of Paul Bryan.
‘Nervousness’ in arable farmland sector despite stable market
The farmland market remained stable in the first quarter but there is a mood of ‘nervousness’ in the arable sector as fuel and fertiliser prices rise, according to a leading agent in the sector. Strutt & Parker’s farmland database shows just over 7,000 acres were publicly marketed in the first quarter down 3,300 acres on the period last year and 15 per cent below the five-year average. Sam Holt, head of estates & farm agency for Strutt & Parker, pointed to persistent rain in the early part of the year as one factor. He said: “More generally there is a sense that some are delaying major decisions pending greater clarity on the impact of the changes to inheritance tax and the wider consequences of the conflict in the Middle East. There is a nervousness within the arable sector, which has had a challenging three years and is now, once again, facing rising fuel and fertiliser costs.” He added: “Yet despite this volatility, our analysis of the farmland database highlights the market remains relatively robust. We also continue to see off-market transactions as sellers seek a more discreet sale – we have recently exchanged on the private sale of a 1,800 acre arable farm just two weeks after the offer was accepted.”
Hot chilli food supplier relocates to major industrial site outside Ipswich
Developer Hillwood UK has sold two major industrial properties at the Eastern Gateway site outside Ipswich to a local company, Exotic Foods, which is relocating from nearby Needham Market. Exotic Foods, which specialises in hot chilli sauces and Ghanaian corn dough, has bought the freehold interest of Unit 6B (of over 18,000 sq ft) for its own occupation and a private investment vehicle has bought the freehold interest of Unit 6A (nearly 13,000 sq ft). The sales mark the fourth and fifth deals over the past year at the Access @ Eastern Gateway industrial and logistics site – which is next to jct 54 on the A14. A unit was let to national distributor Cargo Move last autmn. One final unit of 52,491 sq ft remains available on the site, where occupiers include Amazon, La Doria, MKM, Headlam and VW. Ipswich-based Penn Commercial acts for Hillwood UK as the local letting agent for the scheme, alongside national partners, Savills and Lambert Smith Hampton.
Water utility launches largest-ever investment programme in single year
Anglian Water has set out plans for its largest-ever investment programme in a single year involving £1.6 billion of improvements and maintenance across the East of England starting this month. It forms part of a wider £11 billion, five-year investment plan by the utility running up to 2030. After the company broke ground on more than one thousand capital schemes last year, a further 500 schemes are expected to begin from April. It will invest £269m this year to reduce spills from storm overflows, which includes £47 million to build 35 new storm tanks and work towards a target of replacing more than 1100km of water mains by 2030. The next steps following consultation on the proposed Fens Reservoir will be announced in late spring. Anglian Water chief executive Mark Thurston said: “We are making great strides in delivering our investment programme, and are seeing improvements in our performance, but we have lots of work ahead of us to deliver for our existing and future customers.”
£1 million arts investment ‘strengthens’ case for Ipswich to be ‘UK City of Culture’
Ipswich has won over £1 million in government funding for cultural investment across library and theatre projects. It includes almost £530,000 for the New Wolsey Theatre to deliver major capital upgrades and decarbonisation works and a £500,000 investment to transform Ipswich County Library into a modern, accessible civic hub. The funding forms part of the government’s £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund launched in February last year. Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said: “Our libraries and theatres are at the heart of life in Ipswich, and this funding will ensure they are not only protected, but transformed for the future.” He added: “This investment also strengthens Ipswich’s ambition to become UK City of Culture by demonstrating that we are already delivering the infrastructure, accessibility and confidence needed to compete at a national level.”
Separately, Ipswich Sports Club is using a £570,000 finance package from Lloyds to build four new padel courts on its site in the town’s Henley Road, which are expected to be open this summer.
Audit director promoted to partner to lead expansion
Chartered accountants and business advisory firm Larking Gowen has promoted audit director James Nichols (right) to partner. He joined the firm’s corporate audit & advisory team in 2020, based in the Ipswich office. Charlie Savory, head of corporate, said: “James has been an integral part of the corporate division and has played a key role in its growth across Suffolk and Essex. He’ll now lead the expansion of our audit and advisory services from our Colchester office over the coming months.”
James Nichols said: “…I’m looking forward to continuing to support the growth and development of our talented people and strengthening our client relationships across Suffolk and Essex as we grow our regional presence.” Originally from Felixstowe, James Nichols now lives in Ipswich with his wife Elizabeth.
Commercial and technology lawyer joins law firm’s partnership
Commercial and technology lawyer, Nathan Evans (right) has joined the partnership at law firm Birketts. Based in the firm’s Cambridge office, he has over a decade of experience advising clients on strategic and complex commercial and technology projects and providing legal support to software, trade-tech and tech start-up companies including Confluent Inc, HyBird, Vizrt, SoftwareOne, and Sandvik. Ian Williamson, partner and head of technology, said: “Nathan’s appointment underlines Birketts’ continued commitment to the technology sector, and his experience further strengthens our expertise in this area.”
Meanwhile, Birketts has promoted five lawyers to its partnership; Charlotte Sloan (employment), Claire Jones (public sector), Emma Bysouth, (corporate), Jennifer Headon, (international family) and Jessica Godfrey-Withey (private client advisory). The promotions take the total number of partners at Birketts to 153, of which 45 per cent are women. Separately, Bernadette Baker has taken up the role of head of private client at Birketts, taking over from Jack Royall, while Richard Eaton becomes head of dispute resolution, a role previously held by Alex Davey.
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