Property agent launches environmental arm

Midlands property consultancy Harris Lamb is launching an Environment Department, and has appointed environmental impact assessment (EIA) coordinator and ecologist Dr Holly Smith to spearhead the team.

Smith joins the team from Ecus in Sheffield, where she led the Environmental Impact Assessment team for seven years, obtaining the IEMA EIA Quality Mark for the company and delivering environmental statements for a wide range of developments across the UK.

Patrick Downes, director of planning for Harris Lamb, said: “The decision to enhance the business’ offering with a clear environmental stance is one we’ve been discussing for some time. Increasingly companies are asked to demonstrate their efforts to preserve and minimise impact on the local environment and while we have done this for a number of years, with ecology being high on the political and social radar at present, now is the time for us to establish a specialist department.

“Holly is a highly respected ecologist within the field. She is bringing extensive experience throughout the sector and, having worked alongside her on projects including North Worcestershire Golf Course and Stoneleigh Park, we knew that she was the ideal person to lead the team for us.

Smith said: “I was attracted to Harris Lamb because I was keen to work with the business’ highly respected planning department. I have worked with Pat and his team for over five years, providing environmental support to their clients for a wide range of developments.

“In that time I’ve come to highly respect the professionalism and knowledge of the team and couldn’t resist the fantastic opportunity to join them. I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the company by developing environmental services that will build on the company’s excellent reputation and success.”