Brian Gowthorpe BA FRICS, has more than 25 years unique experience as a surveyor following a first degree in modern history at the University of Durham (St Chad's College). He qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in private practice in London and worked briefly but entertainingly in local authority in Blackburn. Since then he has worked in Manchester, first for Town & City Properties and later for P&O Properties as an asset manager and a development surveyor. Since forming Gowthorpe & Co in 2000 he has worked with a broad range of clients in development consultancy and general practice.

He has dealt with the valuation, acquisition and disposal of many commercial properties across the north west of England. In particular he has specialised in resolving problems of tenure, disrepair and vacancy, so as to release latent value. He has restored and re-let of historic buildings such as Manchester's Barton Arcade and St James's Buildings, Manchester's largest multi-let office building. After modernising and re-letting of Liverpool's vast JM Centre, he carried out retail and office redevelopment projects at the Marketgate Shopping Centre in Lancaster and One Marsden Street, a new office building in Manchester. He regularly acts for clients to acquire development sites and commercial investments.

Although his background is as a general practice surveyor, he has been much involved in construction, resolving building defects and the settling construction disputes. Brian Gowthorpe is a Chartered Project Management Surveyor and has lectured at UMIST and elsewhere on property and development.

Catherine Gowthorpe BA FCA also attended Durham University and graduated with a degree in Russian. She joined Deloitte Haskins and Sells in London and qualified as a chartered accountant. She later worked for Coopers & Lybrand. She was a university lecturer and researcher for a number of years. This involved teaching and research both in Europe and internationally. She is a respected technical author and has been widely published.

Consultants

We are by choice a small, specialised practice but we call upon specialist advice and work, amongst others, with the following external consultants.

Roger File BSc Dip Proj Man MBA MRICS
We rely upon Roger's expertise in the investment market in London and the South East.

Michael Lawless MCIOB
Following a successful career with Bovis, Michael now specialises in cost-effective construction procurement, space planning and the logistics of business relocation.

Cedric Mathison FRICS
Cedric specialises in the valuation and acquisition of commercial property investments with particular expertise in relation to shopping centres.

David O'Rourke BSc MRICS
Our work regularly involves us in Merseyside. David's base is in Liverpool and his knowledge of the local market and the main players is invaluable.

Charles Wilson MA RIBA MRTPI
Charles has many years expert knowledge of planning, listed buildings, Conservation Areas and urban renewal in historic town centres. He advises the government Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).