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Agricultural property specialist merges with independent property firm

29th Oct 2014
from left Mike Gamble and Simon Evans of Irelands and Guy Gowing of Arnolds Keys

One of Norfolk’s longest-established rural Chartered Surveyors and Land Agents is to merge with the county’s biggest independent Chartered Surveyors and estate agents, giving clients from both firms access to a wider range of services, and a greater number of specialist skills.

Irelands, which has roots as far back as 1860, will merge with Arnolds Keys on 1st November.  The Irelands name will be retained within the Arnolds Keys group, and its Hall Road, Norwich office will also remain.

Irelands partner Simon Evans will become a partner of Arnolds Keys, while senior partner Mike Gamble will take on the role of consultant, offering his considerable experience and expertise to clients across the group.  Associate Tom Corfield will become as Associate of Arnolds Keys.

Irelands’ other five staff members will join the merged firm, continuing to work under the Irelands banner.

Irelands offers a full range of agricultural and rural property services, including Land and Estate Management, property sales and acquisitions including farm valuations, sales of farms, smallholdings and other agricultural land, and acting for purchasers of land and farms.

The firm advises on a range of agricultural issues such as Single Payment Scheme applications, farm stocktaking valuations and environmental stewardship.  It also offers landlord and tenant advice on such matters and rent reviews and tenancy successions, as well as an auctions and dispersal sale service.

“We have for some time had the ambition of adding agricultural property expertise to our portfolio of services,” said Arnolds Keys managing partner Guy Gowing.  “The merger with Irelands gives us that important piece of the jigsaw which was missing.

“There is a lot in common between the two firms: both are long-established, independent and locally-based, and so the fit is very good.”

Partner Simon Evans, who will steer the Irelands brand as it merges with Arnolds Keys, said the benefits to clients would be immediately obvious.  “This move will enable us to offer our clients a wider range of services, and draw on Arnolds Keys’ significant bank of experience,  and skills,” he said.

“It also enables us to offer our services through a network of offices, giving us a wider geographical reach, and will give us a higher profile for what we do.”

Arnolds Keys was formed in 2012 with the merger of longstanding independent property firms Arnolds and Keys.  Arnolds was created at the run of the 20th century, whilst Keys came into existence in 1953; both were independent partnerships.