Gloucestershire estate agency O’Connell Property Agents has merged with the international group Partners Real Estate.

The Tewkesbury-based property business joins the group with offices in the UK, Isle of Man and the UAE. Partners plans to open new branches in Gloucestershire and elsewhere in the UK. It will also be recruiting staff.

O’Connell Property Agents was formed in 2007 by Faye and Roy O’Connell. The merger with Partners further strengthens the family connection, as founder and chairman Brendan Beeken is Roy’s brother.

The deal sees both Roy and Faye becoming partners in Partners Real Estate with Roy becoming head of real estate for the group.

Beeken said: “This is the culmination of a long-held ambition of my brother and I to work together. I’m delighted we have been able to make this a reality and look forward to being part of the business’s expansion and growth.

“However, the fact we are related was not a primary consideration in the decision to merge Partners Real Estate and O’Connell Property Agents. Our group identified the potential for this established and trusted business to build on its reputation for quality service and further enhance its position as a leading name in the Gloucestershire property market.”

By creating a network of regional offices in the UK, as well as the Isle of Man and the UAE, Partners will aim to deliver improved client-focused services supported by international expertise and resources.

Beeken added: “The Partners group is a rapidly expanding international real estate business which is building a network of established, respected real estate agents across the UK and further afield.

“We have identified and acquired outstanding property companies which share our values and vision of providing first-rate service to buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords. As part of the group, the businesses we acquire gain access to the resources and investment needed to grow and enhance their services and market presence.”

He went on: “O’Connell Property Agents stood out as a business which perfectly aligns with the Partners ethos. I am delighted to welcome Roy, Faye and the entire team to our group.”

Over the past 17 years, O’Connell Property Agents has become established in the residential sales and rental markets in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester and the surrounding areas. Following the merger, Mr O’Connell says there are exciting times ahead for the business.

O’Connell said: “Brendan and I have often talked about the possibility of working together, and I’m thrilled that is now happening. Together we can build on what has been achieved over the past almost two decades and bring the unrivalled O’Connell Property Agents service to even more property buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants, across Gloucestershire.

“What is truly satisfying, however, is that the decision by Partners to merge with O’Connell Property Agents was based on an assessment of our business, not the relationship between Brendan and I. There was a recognition of what we have achieved and the potential for growth. That is a tribute to the entire team at O’Connell Property Agents.”

He added: “There are exciting times ahead. For now, it will be ‘business as usual’ for our existing clients and team as we continue to provide the high-quality service that has established O’Connell Property Agents as a leading real estate agent in Gloucestershire.”