I am a well respected Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years experience in agency and development consultancy across all property sectors. I have a broad understanding of planning policy and have acted as an expert witness.The early part of my career was spent in London specialising in out-of-town retail and leisure development. This involved letting and acquiring retail warehouse units, multi-screen cinemas and restaurants.In May 2001 I relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne to set up a new office for King Sturge. This was followed in June 2003 by the formation of a separate residential estate agency office. I expanded the office to 27 staff including the commercial division, plant and machinery and residential. I specialised in office agency and mixed use development and was responsible for managing all aspects of the business including, budgeting, accounts, human resources, marketing/PR and business generation. During my time at King Sturge I served on the International Strategy Board.King Sturge merged with Jones Lang LaSalle in May 2011 and when the office closed in November 2013 I set up Sykes Property Consultants. In June 2014 I set up Consett Property Partners LLP to invest directly in commercial property. Following six years as a sole trader I joined the Newcastle office of Lambert Smith Hampton as a Director in the Agency and Capital Markets Department with responsibility for all transactional business.I have been involved in some of the most high profile development and regeneration schemes and one of the highest value commercial property transactions in the North East. I am a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Accessible Retail and Developing Consensus.