_Knight Frank launches London-based planning offering

Knight Frank’s move to significantly bolster its existing team, which up until recently operated out of the firm’s Bristol office, will see 14 planners join the business to focus on London development opportunities. This brings the total team of planners at Knight Frank to 20.  

Joining the firm as a partner, Stuart Baillie will lead the newly formed offering. Stuart, who was formerly Head of Planning at GL Hearn, is a specialist in mixed-use urban regeneration schemes and has led on a wide variety of complex planning projects for both public and private sector clients.

Other senior recruits, all joining the firm as partners, include Sarah Hiscutt, who will focus on residential-led urban projects; Nick Diment, who specialises in retail, leisure and commercial mixed use; and Chris Benham, who has previously focused on hotels, student, co-living, build to rent and leisure.

Knight Frank’s new planning team is already working on some of the largest projects in London and will service the group’s London-based residential and commercial clients, providing planning services across all asset classes. The firm has ambitious plans to gain market share and further grow the planning division over the next three years.       

Alistair Elliott, Knight Frank’s Senior Partner & Group Chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stuart, Sarah, Nick, Chris and each of our new planners to Knight Frank. The team, which joins with a great depth of knowledge in the London and South East market, enables us to immediately provide a wider reaching service to our clients and build new ties with land owners looking for best in class advice on development opportunities. 

“The launch of our dedicated planning team in London is extremely exciting. The team we have put in place has a proven track record and strong reputation in the market. This is the first phase of our strategic drive to develop a market leading residential and commercial planning business in the UK.”

Stuart Baillie, Head of Planning at Knight Frank, said: “We’ve hit the ground running with an exceptional planning team, which we have ambitious plans to grow with the aim of attracting the very best talent in the industry. The market-leading profile of Knight Frank, as well as its access to an outstanding client portfolio, will give us the opportunity to work with the very best people and projects and I’m delighted to be spearheading this outstanding team of planners.”