Two former Roger Tym staff create new firm

Two senior consultants from economists Roger Tym & Partners have set up an independent planning and development consultancy practice in Manchester.

Roger Tym & Partners announced on Monday it had merged with Baker Associates and consultancy Peter Brett Associates.

Holliss was a former partner with Roger Tym & Partners and head of its Manchester office for 22 years.

Hollie Vincent, formerly a senior consultant with Roger Tym, is joining Holliss in his new venture.

The new practice, Holliss Vincent, will provide specialist planning and development advice across all sectors and at all stages of the development planning process.

Holliss said the practice will aim to add value to projects through negotiation, focused case making, and provision of intelligent solutions to planning problems.

He was recently a leading expert witness for the redevelopment of Lancashire County Cricket Club's Old Trafford ground; Tesco and Everton Football Club's proposals for the redevelopment of Kirkby town centre, which was refused planning by the Government in November 2009, and the ongoing £700m mixed use Tithebarn scheme in Preston city centre.

Holliss said: "Setting up my own practice is the culmination of an ambition to provide a more focussed and efficient means of providing specialised advice on the planning process to public and private clients alike. Our aim is to assist decision makers in reaching conclusions and facilitate development through negotiation and consensus."

Vincent added: "The new practice is currently based in St Anne's Square in Manchester city centre until we find somewhere more permanent but we will be based in central Manchester.

"Our public and private sector clients include landowner Lord St Helens, who we provide planning advice to in respect of his land assets, Derbyshire Dales District Council, as well as Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre councils."

Holliss Vincent plans to relocate to a new office after April.