Savills snaps up independent chain to expand London presence

Savills has snapped up an independent London estate agency in what is likely to be one of the last deals of 2018.

It has acquired Currell, an agency set up back in 1990 with offices in Islington, Clerkenwell, Hackney, Hackney Wick and Victoria Park.

The offices and teams join Savills with immediate effect but will trade for “a few months” under the Currell name and branding, adding that the firm is now ‘part of the Savills group’. 

The Currell Islington office will relocate across the road to the Savills branch. 

Savills describes the acquisition as “a key strategic opportunity for expansion” bolstering its existing east London office network in Islington, Shoreditch, Wapping and Canary Wharf.

Burrell operates sales and new homes as well as lettings, residential development and block management. There is also a general practice commercial professional department.

“Having built the company up over the last 28 years, we feel we are a very good cultural and strategic fit. Our passion and drive will now continue within Savills as we make the most of the opportunities for growth within the real estate markets in east London” say agency founders Anne and Chris Currell.

James Sparrow, chief executive officer of Savills UK and EMEA, adds: “We’ve admired Currell for many years. Their culture, location of their offices and market sectors in which they operate complement our existing rentals, sales and residential development businesses extremely well. This acquisition allows us to be at the forefront of the increasing interest in east London.’’

Meanwhile Hunters has opened a new branch with the rebranding of an agency at Castleford in West Yorkshire. 

Mark Wheeldon, who has now become the sales director of Hunters Castleford, says: “We’re delighted to be part of one of the leading estate agents in the country. Hunters has an excellent track record in both sales and lettings and with the support that Hunters are able provide in key areas of marketing, technology, training and communication, we believe we can now offer unrivalled benefits to existing and prospective customers.”

Glynis Frew, chief executive of Hunters, adds: “We’re delighted to announce continued growth for Hunters in the face of challenging market conditions.”

And the independent Essex chain Temme English will be celebrating the New Year by opening a branch in the picturesque town of Maldon. 

This complements existing Temme English branches in Colchester, Wickford and Basildon. 

Co-founder Carl Temme says the new office allows the firm to cover the whole of the East of Essex, running down from the Suffolk border to the Thames Estuary. 

“The average property [in Maldon] is well over 30 per cent cheaper than it is in London and that’s seriously good value for money” he says.