Building control experts take prime office space

Building control surveyor, Ball & Berry, has opened its new Birmingham office in the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter.

The move brings a number of staff from the chartered building control surveyors’ Lancashire and Manchester offices, including director Paul McNeill and associate director Mathew Banks to the Grade II listed Georgian building on St Paul’s Square.

Bringing more than 70 years’ combined industry experience, Ball & Berry is also recruiting a regional director to help expand its presence across the Midlands and cement its footprint in the city. 

Opening a third office in Birmingham city centre continues Ball & Berry’s strategy of driving collaboration and growth between its specialist building control surveyors, support staff and clients, as it delivers an increasing volume of major projects in the region.

Project value across Birmingham and the wider Midlands has doubled over the last 12 months to £200m, with key appointments including Exchange Square phase one and two with Sir Robert McAlpine, Vita Student residential scheme with Select Property Group, as well as mixed-use developments Hockley Mills and Beaufort House on Newhall Street.

Director Paul McNeill explains: “Opening a Birmingham office demonstrates our commitment to the city and the wider region. We’ve built a strong track record here by working on a number of flagship projects and establishing a permanent base, whilst also recruiting a new regional director, will solidify our position as the go-to approved inspector.

“Our Birmingham team bring extensive understanding of the local market and specialist technical experience in delivering high rise residential buildings, hotels, retail, office, industrial and education schemes. Closer proximity to our clients and partners will enable us to capitalise on the buoyant construction market and the wealth of regional opportunities thanks to HS2 and the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

Ball & Berry has 21 staff across offices in Preston, Manchester and Birmingham, with its team including a number of ex-heads of local authority building control. It specialises in commercial building control services across a variety of industry sectors.