Property consultancy Vail Williams has seen a 163% increase in Oxford-specific turnover since opening an office in the city a year ago.
The firm has also been appointed to the University of Oxford’s property panel and acts for several university colleges as a retained commercial adviser.
Vail Williams has also expanded its presence in the Oxford retail market and taken an advisory role with Oxford City Council as well as growing its own team to meet business demand.
Partner Richard Dawtrey, head of the Oxford office and Head of Investment at Vail Williams, said: “The opportunity that Oxford represented has been alive to us for many years. It was a strategic decision at a time which felt right – and with hindsight, justifiably so.
“The Oxford market has a huge amount of potential as a beacon of growth, particularly in the education and life sciences sectors, and for us to have a major presence in the city is already paying dividends.”
Vail Williams’ entry into the Oxford market saw the firm, which now has twelve offices across the UK, bridge the gap between its London, Reading and Birmingham offices, opening premises at New Barclay House in the city.
Vail Williams had already been active in Oxfordshire for many years, advising landlords, investors and occupiers from its strongholds in the Thames Valley, London and Midlands, but last February’s city office opening has seen it deliver a 163% increase in Oxford-specific turnover.
Richard added: “As the absolute epicentre of learning and healthcare innovation, and with such a strong and independent retail sector, Oxford was an incredibly exciting proposition for us.
“Now that we have settled into the market, we are looking to strengthen our position here. We aim to continue to increase our market share through development of more property asset management mandates, as well as growing our building surveying, lease advisory and valuation teams to meet demand in this market.
“Opening an office here was a prudent decision for the business and we want to become the premier commercial property consultancy in Oxford. But that growth is underpinned by our values and these values will be core to our vision as we grow.”
Key engagements have included a general advisory appointment to the University of Oxford’s property panel and acting for several university colleges as a retained commercial adviser including Lincoln College, St. Edmund Hall, University College, Oriel College, Pembroke College, Harris Manchester College and St. Peter’s College.
The firm has also continued to expand its presence in the Oxford retail market, acting on a significant number of College-owned retail mandates in the market this year, as well as taking an advisory role with Oxford City Council making it, arguably, the market leading retail property adviser in the city.
Vail Williams also completed a multi-million-pound residential disposal here and is growing its market share of transactions in the life sciences sector, acting on the largest deal by square foot in the sector in 2024, leasing 23,000 sq ft of lab space to Agratas at Milton Park.
The firm opened its doors in the city 12 months ago with Richard joined by experienced partner Mike Watson and surveyor Clark Tersol and has since added to its ranks associate Christopher Bailey and project administrator Naomi Ray and is currently recruiting for a lease advisory surveyor.
Senior Vail Williams staff working across the Oxford region also include partners Carl Grint, Guy Pearce, David Barden, Daniel Pearce, Sarah Isherwood and Roland Browning.
The appointment of Mike Watson, with a second-to-none reputation and 26 years’ experience in Oxford was a crucial ingredient.
Richard said: “He knows the city’s property market inside out, is an expert on the city centre and has significant experience acting for a number of the Oxford colleges – a combination which galvanised our decision.”
Mike added: “I knew, from Vail Williams’ focus on client care and relationships, that this would enable me to service clients at a standard that was befitting, but it also aligned well with my own work ethic. This cultural synergy has, I think, been core to our success in growing our Oxford practice over the last twelve months.”
“There is a lot for us to feel proud about over the last year, but for me, what I have appreciated the most is the level of integration and enthusiasm from Vail Williams coming into Oxford, and how quickly we have all gelled as a team.”
Oxford is a global scientific powerhouse, home to world-leading research and industry expertise contributing around £2.5 billion to the UK economy. It is just one of four cities in the UK which are a net contributor to the economy.
The city has been identified by Government as a growth engine within the recently reinvigorated Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor – one of the most important areas for catalysing national productivity and easing the nation’s housing crisis.
There is potential to deliver 4,500 new homes, community spaces, education and leisure facilities, and the further development office and laboratory space in the growth corridor.
