Countrywide this morning confirmed it has acquired a regional estate and lettings agency, Woods Estate Agents, in Bristol.

The sum has not been disclosed.

At the same time, Countrywide asked for any other agent, virtually anywhere in the UK, interested in selling to get in touch.

The firm, already the UK’s largest chain, plans to double in size within the next five years.

Woods operates a five branch network covering Bristol and north Somerset which serves all aspects of the property market, including services in residential sales and lettings, property management and block management.

Woods, founded in 1992 by former owner Doug Wood, will continue to operate under its own brand name, managed by directors Olivia Donaghy and James Butler. All 45 employees will continue to work in their current roles.

Wood will continue to support the business in the short term, Countrywide said this morning.

He said: “I am pleased to have sold Woods Estate Agents to Countrywide, as we believe the business will continue to develop and benefit from their retail structure and strategy.

“Countywide particularly stood out to us as a business that focuses not only on its customers needs but also on the training and development of its employees. They can provide our employees with the opportunity to build on their current strong skills and achieve industry recognised qualifications.”

 Bruce Evans, commercial director for Countrywide, said: “Woods Estate Agents is the perfect fit for Countrywide. This business plays a key role in our retail division strategy, to expand our regional footprint and stand out as a responsible key player in the property industry.

“At Countrywide we are very interested in talking to professional agents with single or multi-branch businesses almost anywhere in the UK. If you have any enquiries relating to acquisitions or wish to find out more please get in touch at acquisitions@countrywide.co.uk”

Last November, Countrywide bought John Francis, in south Wales, plus Sutton Kersh and Clive Watkin, both in Liverpool.

The trio of purchases added 39 more branches and over 300 new employees to the Countrywide chain – a week after the business warned on profits because of lower than expected sales volumes.

Meanwhile Countrywide chairman and former chief executive Grenville Turner is reported by Sky News to be standing down, with headhunters said to be looking for a successor.

The departure, if true, may signal a significant boardroom split in strategy, with new Countrywide CEO Alison Platt treading a very different path from that of Turner’s.

Turner became CEO of Countrywide in 2007, taking over from the legendary Harry Hill, who then became chairman. Turner himself subsequently took over over as Countrywide chairman in 2014, in succession to Hill’s tenure and when Platt became CEO.

Turner rebuilt Countrywide’s fortunes after its battering during the housing market crash and oversaw its successful return to the stock market in 2013.

Although Sky News is reporting Turner’s likely departure from the Countrywide boardroom as a result of a breach of government guidelines – the protocol, according to Sky, is that former chief executives should not become chairmen –  this is likely to be interpreted as extremely wide of the mark by industry watchers.

Analysts suggest that Turner, also a director of Zoopla and of government department Communities and Local Government, may have found his tenure as chairman of Countrywide impossible to continue in the light of the ambitions of Platt.

Notably it was announced last July that big-hitter Nigel Stockton, Countrywide’s head of mortgages, was quitting to join wealth management firm Bellpenny – of which Turner is chairman.

Countrywide has notably shed a number of top executives  in the last nine months. It has also brought in a number of “retail” specialists, and announced its intention to double in size, but also recently warned on profits.

Last November, the UK’s largest agent, Countrywide, bought John Francis in south Wales, plus Sutton Kersh and Clive Watkin, both in Liverpool.

The trio of purchases added 39 more branches and over 300 new employees to the Countrywide chain – a week after the business warned on profits because of lower than expected sales volumes.

* Meanwhile, Countrywide has brought its London head office personnel together at a new office.

The move, to the large seventh floor of UK House at 180 Oxford Street, has brought together for the first time more than 170 people from head offices across London, including Hamptons International, John D Wood & Co and its consultancy business Ikon.

These teams will join Countrywide’s executive team and Lambert Smith Hampton who are already based at UK House – bringing nearly 500 Countrywide Group personnel together in one location.

Graham Bell, managing director for London at Countrywide, said: “We have never had all of the head office functions for our London based businesses together in one place so we are excited by this move.

“The timing is right for our strategy of ‘One Countrywide’ and these offices which are located in such a central location in London will enable us to develop and grow together.”

The national HQ for Countrywide is in Milton Keynes.