Lanpro Group has strengthened its position in the UK planning and environmental consultancy market with the acquisition of CarneySweeney, a move that marks the start of a five-year expansion strategy.
The deal adds four new offices – in Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter and London – and is the first step in Lanpro’s plan to become the largest independent consultancy of its kind.
The acquisition brings 35 planners into the group at a time when shortages of planning professionals are affecting both public and private sectors.
The increased capacity is expected to support rising demand as the Government accelerates growth initiatives and unlocks planning regulation.
BROADER SUPPORT
Lanpro said the enlarged group will offer broader support across housing, commercial, retail, green infrastructure and data-centre projects. CarneySweeney’s network complements Lanpro’s existing expertise in planning, masterplanning, urban design, historic environment, GIS, visualisation, landscape architecture, ecology and arboriculture.
CarneySweeney will continue to operate under its own brand with its current staff and offices, ensuring continuity for clients while gaining access to additional resources and investment through the parent group.
NATURAL FIT
Chris Leeming (main picture), Chief Executive of Lanpro, says: “CarneySweeney is a natural fit for Lanpro. We have built our business on collaboration between different disciplines and this acquisition delivers on those objectives.
“It’s an acquisition of talent and expertise rather than one of efficiencies: our stated intention is to broaden, not consolidate. We’ll be looking to draw on the strengths of both businesses to offer a seamless service to clients.”
Faraz Baber, Chief Operating Officer at Lanpro Group, adds: “This kickstarts our ambitious five-year growth plans to be the largest independent multi-disciplinary business in the UK.
“CarneySweeney provides a perfect fit to broaden our geographical reach across the nations and the regions.
“We are delighted to expand our operational management team with first class operators in the planning field and shore up planning expertise to respond to our clients’ needs as the Government’s unlocks planning regulation and provides supports for economic growth.”
NATIONAL REACH
Paula Carney, Director of CarneySweeney, says: “Joining Lanpro provides the scale and support to assist our current and future clients.
“We’re also now able to offer clients easy access to a wider range of in-house disciplines and a stronger national reach, while keeping the same dedicated team they’ve always worked with and with the approach they are used to.”
Lanpro said the deal is part of a wider strategy to bring additional professional services into the group and position the business as a UK-owned alternative to the major multinational consultancies. Its portfolio includes strategic land promotions, new settlements and major energy and infrastructure schemes.
Leeming adds: “Our ambition is to become the largest planning-led environmental consultancy in the UK, without losing the independence and responsiveness that define our culture. Bringing CarneySweeney into the Lanpro Group is a key step in that journey.”
