New agency takes over JLL Northern resi operation

Louise Emmott, formerly head of residential agency at JLL, has led a management buyout of the company’s Northern residential business – creating a new agency, Kingsdene, in the process.

Kingsdene has offices in Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, and will continue to work closely with JLL. The two agencies will be joint venture partners and share resources, according a press release.

Kingsdene’s agency remit is home sales, residential lettings, and management. Its name is derived from the old River Dene, which used to flow through Manchester, and King Sturge. King Sturge was a 250-year-old agency that Emmott started working for 2003. The agency was sold to JLL in 2011.

At Kingsdene, Emmott is joined by directors Oliver Doland and Lynsey Smith. Kingsdene has 24 other employees as well.

“When the opportunity presented itself for Oliver, Lynsey, and I to take over JLL’s residential operations in the North, we jumped at the chance,” Emmott said.

“We know our market inside out and have great relationships with our clients across the region,” she continued.

“Kingsdene will offer unrivalled local expertise in city centre sales, lettings, and property management, and this coupled with our unique relationship with JLL’s UK and global capital markets team means we have an exciting offer to help our ambitious property developer clients access international funding and investment.”

Stephen Hogg, managing director of JLL’s Manchester office, wished Kingsdene well.

“I have worked alongside Louise for 20 years and Oliver and Lynsey for 15 years and I think it’s fantastic how JLL can support this MBO and strategic partnership going forward,” Hogg said.

“The focus is ensuring our client base receives the best service and this new hybrid model of global and local advisers gives us best-in-class advice,” he continued. “I look forward to working with the team for another 20 years!”

Kingsdene clients include Muse, Clarion, Grainger, and Urban&Civic.