Sutton Griffin Architects, Newbury-based and one of Southern England’s most successful architectural practices has merged with regional property firm Dreweatt Neate.

The two firms have enjoyed a proactive working alliance over many years - Dreweatt Neate’s planning knowledge and southern England interests have complemented much of Sutton Griffin’s work. The enlarged business plans to develop a reputation as a leading multi-disciplinary design and development consultancy. To realise their ambition for expansion into new and national locations, Sutton Griffin Architects and Dreweatt Neate have decided to formalise their close working relationship.

As a prestigious sister company to Dreweatt Neate, which has its head office in Winchester, Sutton Griffin will maintain its corporate autonomy while offering established and new clients access to additional specialist advice and expertise, including surveying; site finding and acquisition; and town planning. To facilitate this, Sutton Griffin will expand to welcome Dreweatt Neate’s well established architectural team and provide additional expertise by merging or working with Dreweatt Neate’s highly regarded planning and building surveying teams.

Dreweatt Neate’s managing partner, Richard Liddiard, said: “This is a great addition to our firm and one which makes strategic and commercial sense because of the close fit in terms of services, client base, service philosophy and business culture.

“Dreweatt Neate and Sutton Griffin have worked together on many projects including, most recently, the newly completed refurbishment of the Camp Hopson department store in Newbury, Donnington Grove Hotel and Country Club and Purley Park in Reading. It makes good business sense to build on an already very successful collaboration.”

Steven Smallman, partner and head of the Architectural and Town Planning practice at Dreweatt Neate added: “It has always been my ambition to enhance our practice and be recognised in our own right, enabling us to work independently of the other services offered by Dreweatt Neate where commercially appropriate. This merger will allow us to realise this goal and further expansion of these services is envisaged.”

Speaking about Sutton Griffin’s new venture, managing director Patrick Griffin commented: “We anticipate that this exciting merger with Dreweatt Neate will position us as the leading regional multi-disciplinary design and development consultancy, providing clients with unrivalled services and advice.  Two firms of outstanding reputation and longevity have come together to offer a new kind of integrated service for the future.”

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