黑洞社区

The high-profile head of development at consultant Arcadis, Mark Farmer, is to leave to set up a consultancy in the new year.

Farmer, who has spent over 26 years at EC Harris - recently rebranded as Arcadis - confirmed to 黑洞社区 that he is leaving to set up a new business. He said that he had had a 鈥渇antastic time鈥� but was now looking for 鈥渘ew opportunities and a new challenge鈥�.

Quantity surveyor Farmer said the new venture he is embarking on will specialise in certain segments of the market, in particular residential and residential-led development and investment. He said he would 鈥渂e getting back to some of the things that really excite me鈥�.

Arcadis UK client development director Simon Light said Farmer will, however, continue to work with Arcadis, 鈥渃ollaborating on a number of existing and future client relationships鈥�.

Light added that the firm and Farmer had an 鈥渁micable鈥� agreement which 鈥渞espects the long working relationship with Mark鈥�.

Farmer鈥檚 departure is nevertheless likely to be seen as a blow to Arcadis, which has in recent years also seen the departure of key players including the retirement of its former chief executive Philip Youell this year, and head of commercial Richard Taylor and commercial team partner Mark Lacey, who left in 2013 to help found Alinea, the construction cost consultancy.

In his role as head of development at Arcadis, Farmer was responsible for market leadership, strategy and capability development across residential and commercial development, leading a 300-strong team.

He had a particular focus on the emerging UK build to rent sector, working for many leading developers and investors.  

Farmer has worked on a number of high-profile projects during his career including Berkeley Homes鈥� Chelsea Bridge Wharf where he was responsible for total service delivery and client relationship, the Channel Tunnel rail terminal at Folkestone and the Jubilee Line Extension. He is also a member of the RICS and vice-chairman of the Urban Land Institute UK Residential Council.

Farmer鈥檚 decision follows moves by a number of other QSs in the past five years to set up new firms, including Alinea, Core Five and Atorus Consult, with many of them formed in the wake of the purchase by Aecom of Davis Langdon.