Property consultancy CBRE has further strengthened its Birmingham-based team with the appointment of a new associate director.

Richard Brown has been reunited in the national planning team with Gary Cardin, the former partner at Deloitte Real Estate who joined CBRE earlier this year to head up its planning team in the Midlands.

Mr Brown has more than 18 years of planning experience, working in both the private and public sectors and previously spent 12 years with Deloitte Real Estate and its predecessor Drivers Jonas.

He has also held planning positions at a number of local authorities with experience of advising on the planning and development potential of sites, co-ordinating and working with multi-disciplinary teams on complex applications and environmental impact assessments.

His clients include ASDA, Calthorpe Estates, IM Properties, Tyrrells Crisps, Coventry City Council and various other local authorities.

Mr Cardin said: "Having worked together for more than 12 years, it's great to have Richard as part of the team at CBRE.

"He's a highly experienced planner with a lot to offer in terms of his skills and knowledge of the planning system, which will further strengthen the services and advice we can offer clients, both regionally and nationally.

"This is an exciting time to be working in planning, given the increase in development activity and the opportunities that it presents.

"As a result, we are seeing an increase in the demand for our services, so Richard's appointment could not have come too soon."

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