The Leaders Romans Group has announced a major acquisition of chartered surveying and commercial property consultancy firm Dunlop Heywood.

The business has offices in London, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Belfast.

Dunlop Heywood advises a wide range of clients in various business sectors, including aviation, docks and harbours, energy and renewables, retail and leisure, on business rates liability.

Clients include Asda, Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City, Travis Perkins, plus charities and Leeds Bradford and Dublin airports.

The company was established by founding partner Stuart Hicks in 2008, but the origins of the business can be traced back to 1832.

Hicks and the senior team will remain with the business, which will continue to trade as Dunlop Heywood.

Peter Kavanagh, CEO at Leaders Romans Group, said: “This is a fantastic acquisition for LRG, which will further enhance the range of expert property services we can offer our clients.

“Dunlop Heywood has a very well established market reputation for providing expert rating advice, and I am confident that by working with Stuart and his team, we will be able to grow the business in the coming years.”

Matthew Light, group mergers and acquisitions director, said of the acquisition: “I am delighted that we have added Dunlop Heywood to the Leaders Romans Group, and that Stuart has remained as director and shareholder.

“Though our priority for acquisitions remains focused on residential lettings and sales estate agency and block management, we are keen to explore other areas of the property sector which we believe would add significant value to the group.”

The senior teams at LRG and Dunlop Heywood are now working on an investment and development plan, which will ensure that Dunlop Heywood maintains its position as the leading business rates consultancy in the UK.

Separately this week, it was also announced that Leaders Romans Group have chosen a new software supplier for its lettings and property management. PropCo won the contract after a competitive tender. Its technology, now being rolled out across the group, is already used by Countrywide, and by Benham & Reeves.