Property consultancy King Sturge has celebrated the first anniversary of its Birmingham-based development agency department by further expanding the team with the appointment of new associate, Stuart Rose.

King Sturge partner Gareth Williams, who heads the development team, said the department handled all major sectors of the property market but it was increasingly active in retail, particularly outofcentre development and agency.

He added: "Stuart has been recruited as an outofcentre retail specialist and with retail now considered as an acceptable key with which to unlock regeneration opportunities, he will provide valuable support to our development function."

King Sturge manages and provides agency advice on retail parks across the Midlands for clients which include Canada Life, The Junction Partnership, Countrywide, Capital & Counties, the Church Commissioners, Highstone and Morston Assets.

It also recently advised the Junction Partnership and Akaria Investment on the acquisition of Telford Forge and Telford Bridge Retail Parks for a total of £166 million.

Telford Forge, a 315,000 sq ft park, was recently acquired for £105 million by Junction Partnership, which was advised by Gareth Williams and his colleagues.