Meet The Team

Andrea handles all press related matters for the company. She comes from a press relations background having worked for various National companies from all manner of industry areas.

Andrea also has numerous years of extensive experience in event management and general marketing.

Anthony takes responsibility for projects in the North West and has numerous years of experience in planning consultancy for agricultural development and farm diversification schemes. He has extensive knowledge of the complex process involved from initial planning investigations, building and design requirements through to the submission of detailed planning applications.

Anthony also undertakes farm and land valuations, property agency, estate management and deals with matters involving compulsory purchase and compensation.

Anthony has a degree in land management (Harper Adams), is a professional member of the RICS and a fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Brian is Acorus' Managing Director and Sales and Marketing Director and is responsible for the South and South East team.

A qualified Chartered Surveyor, Brian specialises in planning consultancy and handles planning appeals, agricultural occupancy conditions, intensive livestock developments and equine related work. His work also includes the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

Brian leads the property sales work within Acorus and advises clients on how to maximise their property value prior to marketing and sale.

Colin was recruited to assist with our expanding building design and project management team.

Colin has previously worked for several large architectural practices and has a wealth of experience in a wide range of building projects. In addition to the typical barn conversion and dwelling designs that Colin handles on a day to day basis, he also has experience in the design and implementation of larger projects such as hospitals, commercial buildings, offices and refurbishments.

David has extensive experience in rural building design, planning and project management. He has been involved in a wide range of major building projects from inception to completion including crop store facilities, livestock units, new farmsteads, new garden centres and conversion of traditional buildings.

He also advises on general planning matters including work related to dwelling appraisals and is our national lead consultant regarding waste handling and composting facilities.

Emma is an Administrator based in the Wolverhampton office, providing general office support to the Midlands and Wales team. Emma tracks appeals and planning applications for the team.

Emma has previous administrative experience and has worked in customer services within the science sector of agricultural testing, specifically pesticides.

Emma holds an honours degree in Russian and Russian Studies from Leeds University. This incorporated modules in Japanese, with time spent studying in Moscow and Tokyo.

In the role of Business Manager and Associate, James manages the South West office and is responsible for project management and regional sales.

As a Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, James specialises in planning and business consultancy including work relating to agricultural dwellings, asset maximisation, diversification and general grant advice and is a lead consultant for our occupancy conditions and equine work.

Jeff is a leading consultant for our planning and design of farm buildings work. He is highly experienced in diversification schemes including residential and commercial barn conversions, golf courses and caravan parks.

Jeff project manages a wide range of projects through the planning process to submission for building regulations approval and completion.

Jemma gained her degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management in 1994 and is our lead equestrian consultant.

Jemma specialises in planning and diversification for equestrian developments, agricultural occupancy conditions and CLUEDS.

Jemma?s work ranges from environmental impact assessments to expert witness at Public Inquiry and her client base includes Local Authorities, agricultural businesses, farmers, British Waterways and Defra.

Jon joined Acorus in February 2006 to assist our busy building design team and is now a permanent member of staff.

Having completed his architecture degree at Canterbury in 2004 he took time out from his studies before moving back to Devon.

Julie is a highly experienced finance systems administrator. She is also the official company secretary.

Laura graduated from Harper Adams University College in 2007 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management.

Laura works in the South West office assisting their dedicated planning and rural team.

Leanne manages all our regional properties subject to agricultural occupancy conditions and deals with the submission of planning applications where appropriate liaising closely with Acorus consultants and monitoring the progress of projects.

She also handles all our national properties and is responsible for their marketing and sales.

She assists the Sales & Marketing Director with managing the company’s marketing plan, particularly advertising.

Additionally, she manages the office and is responsible for the regional Key Account contracts and Local Authority contracts.

Louise manages all planning applications, Certificates of Lawfulness applications and GDO 28 day notices in the Bury office.

She is also responsible for managing project files, suppliers and contractors, ensuring dates and targets are met. Supervising the progress of planning applications from submission through to approval, and liaising with local and national authorities as appropriate.

Matt gained a degree in Agriculture from Newcastle Upon Tyne University in 1988. Following employment in practical agriculture as a Farm Manager, Matt has since worked as a Business Consultant for some of the leading farm consultancy firms in the UK.

Matt has extensive knowledge of business and financial issues within the Agricultural Industry gained by completing work for farmers, agricultural companies, research institutions and other corporate clients including Local Government Agencies and the Banks.

Further work experience includes development and implementation of business strategy to improve profitability by sustainable development and Matt?s advice on business diversification issues is frequently sought from planning to project implementation. Matt is also called upon as an expert witness in his field and keeps abreast of the constantly evolving UK and European agricultural policies and their affect on farming businesses within the UK.

Mick is Technical Director and Rural Planning Consultant for Acorus and responsible for the North East region.

Mick is a Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor and a senior project manager specialising in planning and diversification consultancy, including work relating to agricultural buildings and dwellings, residential and commercial barn conversions, equestrian developments, farmshops, chalet developments, golf courses, theme parks, caravan parks and other diversification schemes (24 years experience). Leading a cross section of project teams and external consultants, Mick has successfully achieved planning permission and development of land and buildings for agricultural, rural and leisure purposes.

He has extensive expert witness experience.

Mike is an associate of the company and has staff and management responsibilities for both the South West office and the National Building Design Team. In addition to this he also undertakes the role of the IT co-ordinator for the company.

Mike is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Building and is highly experienced in rural diversification projects, and in particular the conversion of traditional farm buildings into residential, tourism and commercial uses.

Undertaking the role of project manager Mike has successfully taken many projects from inception right the way through to completion on site and has been rewarded with a number of prestigious design awards.

Nigel has a national responsibility as Director of Finance and HR with Acorus and is based in the South West office.

In addition to this, he maintains a portfolio of design projects throughout the company in England and Wales.

Nigel is a qualified chartered surveyor and has worked in the rural building sector for a number of years developing a wide ranging skill base. Nigel is a highly experienced project manager and has particular experience of farm and horticultural building design. He also specialises in construction health and safety with regard to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

Pat has been a Chartered Town Planner since 1982 and has over 25 years experience in planning, both in the public and private sector. Pat has a wide range of experience dealing with all aspects of the planning process including conservation area and listed building matters; appraisals; pre-application negotiations; preparing and submitting applications; appeals; Local Plan representations and legal agreements. Her clients include private individuals, developers and Local Authorities.

Roland is one of our leading consultants for agricultural occupancy conditions related work.

His experience as an Agricultural Surveyor began in Leeds where he undertook a range of agricultural and rural planning projects. He also has experience of residential surveys and valuations and now specialises in property consultancy.

Roland's expert witness experience is often required at public planning inquiries.

Rose is a member of our Corporate and Government Section, based at the Wolverhampton office. She provides administrative support in various areas including human resources, client account and the company car scheme.

Sally is highly skilled in many aspects of CAD having gained a BA Hons in Three Dimensional Design and a City and Guilds level three in AutoCAD 2000.

Sally is based at our South West office but assists in building design projects across the company nationwide. Her key skills are utilising '3d studio' coupled with digital photography.

Sian is Administrator for Acorus' South West Office in Exeter. Sian is responsible for all administrative duties and general office support for the South West team.

Sian has a solid administrative background having worked in various roles in buying and tourism since University where she obtained a BA (Hons) in Tourism Management.

Her previous roles have included Visitor Centre Manager for Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust and Assistant Buyer for Hannon Young Ltd in Teignmough. During her four years at Hannon Young, a local building contractor, Sian gained a good general knowledge of the building industry.

Sid is a Chartered Architect and works on the design of buildings from inception to completion on site.

Projects he has worked on have varied from new houses and commercial offices to equestrian work stables, new farm buildings and conversion of traditional buildings.

A founder Director of Acorus Rural Property Services Ltd, Ted's main focus is on government departments and other key Acorus accounts. He manages the Acorus estate management and professional support contracts for Defra.

Ted has vast experience in agricultural impact assessments of new road schemes for the Highways Agency and County Councils and is regularly called upon as an expert witness at public inquiries.

He also undertakes agricultural land quality impact assessments of proposed development sites and advises on land restoration and aftercare management.

Ted is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (rural faculty), an Incorporated Agricultural Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers.