Planning and design consultancy snapped up by £4bn multinational

International engineering, design and project management business Stantec has acquired Barton Willmore, the planning and design consultancy which has an office in Birmingham, in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

With offices already established in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London and more regional sites, the acquisition of Barton Willmore sees Stantec’s UK presence increase to more than 2,500 strong, with all Barton Willmore partners joining Stantec UK to continue in existing or enhanced roles. They will join Stantec’s team of 25,000, operating in over 400 locations across six continents.

With a market capitalisation in excess of £4bn and projects ranging from the Panama Canal expansion to working with the US Federal Government, Stantec has consistently ranked as one of the world’s top design and architectural organisations.

Bjorn Morisbak, executive vice president corporate development at Stantec said: “It’s incredibly exciting to welcome Barton Willmore to our growing global team as we look to strengthen our project delivery expertise across several sectors. Barton Willmore’s master planning and urban design capabilities greatly enhance our ability to drive innovative solutions for clients across the globe.”

Managing partner at Barton Willmore, Stephen Toole said: “Stantec and Barton Willmore share a passion for delivering long-lasting projects that improve communities. We are thrilled to be joining a growing global team, combining our respective interdisciplinary capabilities, and broadening our resources to support clients.

“The combined power of these organisations has the potential to not only transform projects in the UK but also address wider global design and sustainability issues.”