Property consultant Bruton Knowles is responding to a steep increase in activity across the agricultural sector by recruiting new agents for its rural affairs team.
Shaun O’Keeffe – who enjoyed ten years with the armed forces before transferring to a successful career in surveying, will join the Gloucester-based rural team covering the South West and Wales.
Head of Rural Estate Management Philip Cowen said Shaun’s appointment was timely given the team’s fast expanding workload.
He said: “Farmers and landowners are finding themselves increasingly involved with local authorities and the utility companies as our towns and cities continue to expand. They are coming to us on a variety of issues including wayleave and easement along with compulsory purchase legislation.
“As well as undertaking a number of professional rural roles Shaun specialises in rural compensation matters and has considerable experience in obtaining positive outcomes for our clients across the South West. This appointment underlines the further strengthening of our core rural offering.”
Shaun said: “I am here to ensure farmers and landowners are professionally represented at all stages, whether this is a large CPO project or a small routine utility maintenance scheme.”
One of his current projects is on behalf of Landowners affected by the construction of a new section of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road near Abergavenny.
“Landowners are having to give up a significant proportion of land to enable the new road works to progress and my role is to ensure that all matters are managed and my clients are looked after and don’t lose out.”
He concluded: “The agricultural sector is facing ever-changing challenges and rural affairs are becoming far more complex. That’s why high quality is more vital than ever.”
