A national planning and development consultancy has opened its ninth UK office in Birmingham.
Lichfields, which is working on the redevelopment of The Belfry hotel and golf resort near Sutton Coldfield, has launched a new base in Cornerblock, Cornwall Street.
It is the company's first office in the Midlands where it is currently involved in bringing forward more than 30,000 residential plots.
Experienced planner Jon Kirby will head the new team alongside senior director Stephen Hollowood and planning director Laurence Homes.
Mr Kirby has more than 25 years of experience in the sector and previously worked as a director in Avison Young's Birmingham office for over a decade.
He has experience across a range of sectors, including housing, mixed-use commercial and leisure development, advising public and private sector clients.
Mr Hollowood previously led the Midlands planning, development and regeneration and public sector consultancy teams at Avison Young, advising on a large range of key projects including delivery of the MoD's estate rationalisation programme and sites for Homes England.
Mr Holmes has more than ten years of experience in private-sector planning consultancy including strategic promotion and managing complex applications, principally for residential and retail-led development.
Among the projects the company has worked on in the region are the revamp of the Merry Hill centre in Dudley and plans by The Belfry to add new bedrooms, ballroom and a banqueting facility at the resort.
Chief executive James Fennell said: "We have acted on a large number of schemes in the Midlands over the years and the opening of the Birmingham office demonstrates the extent of our ambition to build upon these successful foundations."
