Ringwood: Architects practice sold to US group
Ringwood-based architecture, planning and conservation practice Williams Lester has become part of the Brennan Group LLC following a successful sale secured by the Southampton office of BTG McInnes Corporate Finance.
Williams Lester was established in 1987 and its founders – Walter Williams and David Lester – will continue to be involved in the business together with all members of the current team.
The American-based Brennan Group specialises in architecture, urban design and interiors for public and private sector clients and has five offices in the USA and a European base in London (Brennan Associates UK Ltd). The Ringwood offices of Williams Lester will be the company’s first regional foothold in the UK.
Williams Lester has been involved in a number of diverse and high profile projects across Southern England and Wales. These include the conservation and conversion of historic Brambridge House, near Winchester, and the restoration and regeneration of the Grade II* Lower Gardens in Bournemouth. New build projects have included an extension to Parkstone Yacht Club on Sandbanks in Poole and the recent success in gaining planning approval for a retirement village in Halstead, Essex.
“The sale of Williams Lester was a great project to be involved with, not least because the transaction highlights the fact that there are still positive deals to be done even in these uncertain times,” said Rosemary Penn-Newman who heads up BTG McInnes Corporate Finance in the region.
“All the staff are looking forward to a new challenge and the business has the potential to go from strength to strength. It’s very rewarding to see such a well-established, successful local company set fair for the future.”
