Franchising business Century 21 is due to open ten new offices in the first quarter of this year.

Last year the UK estate agency franchise – now owned by the SDL Group – opened a record 16 new offices.

Century 21 is an American brand, with 8,800 offices across 81 countries.

Chris Summers, head of franchising at SDL, said: “In addition to new franchisees joining us last year, two of our offices were resold to two of our existing franchisees who wanted to expand.

“Many of our offices are based in London. However, last year outlets opened in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, with a handful opening in the north and midlands, such as Salford, Doncaster, Derby and Leicester.

“We are expecting 2019 to be just as busy, if not busier.”