DLP, Cass acquired by gbpartnerships

The recent wave of consolidation among UK real estate advisors has continued with Sheffield-based planning consultancy DLP and Liverpool’s Cass Design bought by NHS specialist gbp group.

The deal adds 34 staff to gbp group, 12 of them based at DLP in Sheffield, and takes gbp group to 130 people in offices across the UK. The group’s headquarters are in Birmingham.

James Lloyd, chief executive officer of gbp group, said: “DLP and Cass are specialist, client-focused businesses that make excellent additions to our group. Together, we can now support clients all the way from planning and design, through delivery, to long-term asset management. This represents a genuine step change in what we can offer as a group and supports our growth ambitions. I’m delighted to welcome everyone at DLP and Cass and am excited about what we’ll build together.”

DLP and Cass will continue to operate under their existing brands within gbp group, with Angela Dimbleby continuing as managing director of both businesses.

Angela Dimbleby, MD of DLP and Cass since 2024, said: “Joining gbp group is an exciting next chapter for DLP and Cass. It gives our clients access to development, delivery and asset management expertise, and gives our people new opportunities to grow, while keeping the identity and strengths that our clients value. Our expertise is a natural fit with gbp group’s work across healthcare and the wider public estate, and we’re looking forward to working together to help our clients create better buildings and places.”

Gbp group was founded 25 years ago and has its roots in the NHS LIFT programme.

DLP Planning acquired Cass at the start of 2023.

Recent months have seen safety specialist P4 acquired by private equity compliance group Vadella, Tandem Property Asset Management join the Nordics’ Audria Group as it enters the UK market, and E3P become part of Ecology Group, another private equity-backed conglomerate. Last month, BTG Eddisons acquired asset manager Hornbeam for up to £4m.