Scottish chartered surveyors DM Hall has expanded into the wider UK for the first time, with the acquisition of a highly regarded chartered surveying practice in Cumbria.

The move, which comes on the heels of DM Hall’s 125th anniversary last year, will see the firm absorb Carlisle and Kendal-based Hyde Harrington, an established company which has been operating in the area since 1994.

The agreed acquisition is the first step in in a growth strategy that will see the firm, which employs more than 250 people, continue to actively seek further opportunities in the North of England and beyond. 

The directors and staff at Hyde Harrington will remain in place and in time the firm will be rebranded as part of the DM Hall group. 

Alan Gordon, senior partner at DM Hall, said: “We are very pleased to be able to announce this historic initiative for our firm, which will take us over the border for the first time and will help us identify new geographical areas to serve beyond our traditional Scottish heartlands. 

“It is a logical step for us to look for further growth opportunities beyond Scotland, where we already have a strong presence and a respectable market share in most areas of the country, and where we have successfully grown and diversified significantly in recent years."

He added Hyde Harrington is a highly respected, professional firm which, under the leadership of directors Scott Harrington, Paul Evans, and Charles Metcalf, has established an "impressive footprint and reputation" across the North of England and South-West Scotland.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with one of the dominant players in the region and with a team which not only shares our values but also has similar ambitions for growth,” Gordon said.

Scott Harrington said its alliance with DM Hall, "one of Scotland’s largest and most respected independent firms," was an "excellent fit" for Hyde Harrington. 

"I have no doubt we will be able to benefit from its established infrastructure and provide an even more comprehensive service to clients," said Harrington.

“It has been clear from our discussions that DM Hall sees itself as being in the region for the long term and developing as successfully as it has in Scotland. 

"Our entire team is very pleased to be part of that ambition.”

Gordon said that the expansion strategy reflected the evolving profile of the 26-strong DM Hall partnership, and the ambitions of a highly motivated group of partners.

He said that Hyde Harrington would enjoy access to DM Hall’s vast client bank, not to mention the firm's group-wide head-office functions. 

He also said that, as well as organic expansion, the firm’s eyes would now be open to new opportunities across the UK, and in particular firms such as Hyde Harrington, which share DM Hall's core values of professionalism and high standards of customer service. 

DM Hall, established in 1897, now has 23 offices across Scotland, from Aberdeen to Dumfries.