NJL Consulting is to open a second UK office following a strong performance over the last 12 months. The planning consultancy firm has taken space at Park House, Park Square West in Leeds, with room to grow.
The move comes on the back of an especially strong programme of work secured in the Yorkshire region as a result of the firm’s determined growth plans.
Nick Lee, Managing Director of NJL Consulting, says: “We’ve done a lot of work across Yorkshire over the years so it makes sense for us to have a second base in the heart of the region and Leeds is a great central location for us. We’ve been working across the whole Northern Powerhouse region for over a decade and the time is right for NJL to establish a permanent presence in Yorkshire.”
NJL has advised many clients across Yorkshire on planning related issues including Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and The Moor retail Quarter; work in Leeds with the NHS and Asset Management work across Yorkshire for The Co-operative Group, Lasalle Investment Management and New River Retail.
Director Rob Crolla, who recently joined NJL from Indigo Planning added: “Leeds is home to some of the UK’s most talented planning and property professionals and serves a national market. This is an exciting time for NJL Consulting as it seeks to capitalise on this talent pool and growing market confidence. Leeds is the perfect place for NJL to expand its business.”
Rob Crolla has led on major projects for Sainsbury’s, Sports Direct and Decathlon as well as being a member of the steering group which underpinned the Leeds BID campaign; bringing a wealth of local knowledge and experience.
Nick Pleasant, who also joined the team recently from Indigo Planning, will work in the Leeds office as a Senior Planner.
In Manchester NJL is also expanding its team with new recruits James Ashford and Laura Hayes who have been brought in to assist on a growing portfolio of project work including key Northern Powerhouse schemes.
James joins as a Planner from Peter Brett Associates where he specialised in the preparation of CIL studies for Local Authorities, and will work on strategic and residential development projects as well as advising on s106 negotiation work.
Laura joins at a graduate level from Styles and Wood Ltd where she provided town planning support as well as technical drawing production and surveying. Laura is also an elected RTPI North West Young Planner committee member.
Francesca Petho has also taken on the role of office manager.
The recent recruitment programme brings the total number of staff to 16 delivering a wide range of planning consultancy services to clients with housing, retail, commercial and mixed use schemes.
