Altus buys Eileen Bilton Partnership

Colin Cawley and Jane Marshall of Eileen Bilton Partnership have joined Altus Edwin Hill after the Manchester-based consultancy acquired the niche Warrington and Runcorn letting agency for an undisclosed sum.

Altus Edwin Hill employs 60 staff in Manchester, based in The Royals in South Manchester. Following the takeover, the Warrington-based agency will trade as Altus Eileen Bilton and will continue to operate from Warrington.

Eileen Bilton Partnership grew out of the property team of the Warrington & Runcorn New Town Development Corporation in 1988, its name made famous by the TV ads in 1980s asking viewers to call Eileen Bilton in Warrington-Runcorn, "the nation's most central location." Eileen Bilton no longer works for the company.

Altus Eileen Bilton is currently marketing 1m sq ft of office and industrial space across the North West.

Colin Cawley said: "We have a long history of working with Altus Edwin Hill and joining them provides us with an excellent opportunity to expand our already substantial regional presence with a larger agency team and at an ideal time to meet the demands of an improving economy and property market."

Steve Richmond, Altus Edwin Hill's head of agency, said: "The acquisition of this long established and highly regarded company strategically expands our agency business in the North West.

"Eileen Bilton complements our best-in-class organisation with a talented, specialised team who have enjoyed a long history of being one of the region's most active agents."