Bidwells buys planning consultancy Turnberry Planning

Leading property consultancy Bidwells has acquired planning consultancy Turnberry Planning, a division of the Turnberry Group.

Turnberry Planning has significant expertise in higher education and development within Oxford.

Led by Director Chris Pattison, Turnberry Planning’s team of five formally join Bidwells this week with Pattison becoming its Deputy Head of Planning and an Equity Partner in the firm.

Bidwells advises two thirds of Oxford’s colleges and is the leading adviser to the science and technology sector in the region with more than 400 employees working across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

Chris Pattison has 20 years’ experience in the public sector and commercial property consultancy and is currently representing nine of Oxford’s colleges, as well as advising Oxford University Development and Oxford Brookes University.

Bidwells Head of Planning, Mike Derbyshire, said: “In acquiring Turnberry Planning, we’ve bought one of the very best Oxford-focussed planning practices out there, while welcoming one of the leading figures in the Oxford development scene to the business.

“We’ve collaborated with Chris and his team over many years, delivering complex schemes for shared collegiate clients in Oxford, so this coming together formalises that collaboration and will support our ongoing work advising on the delivery of the next exciting phase of Oxford’s growth.”

Chris Pattison said: “While we will continue supporting our clients across the UK, this move will take our work in Oxford to the next level and build something special with the wider Bidwells team.”

Bidwells is currently advising Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire on the delivery of its 5m sq ft campus masterplan and Oxwed, a joint venture between Oxford City Council and Nuffield College, on its ambitious innovation district proposals for the city centre of Oxford.

Bidwells is also a strategic advisor to the world’s largest university spin-out venture capital fund, Oxford Sciences Enterprises.