HTA Real Estate has recruited one of the region’s leading industrial property experts as the firm closes in on a record year of transactions.
Richard Scott has joined the Newcastle-based consultancy as director, following senior roles with firms including Savills, Cushman & Wakefield and Sanderson Weatherall.
He is now working alongside HTA Real Estate founders Nick Atkinson and Simon Hill, together with Douglas Cranston who recently joined the firm as investment director.
HTA Real Estate was launched in 2013 and over the past twelve years the firm has played a key role in the success of some of the region’s most significant industrial development schemes. Over the past year alone the firm has handled over 875,000 sq.ft of industrial property deals, including the 139,000 sqft letting to JATCO at IAMP on behalf of Sunderland City Council.
At Greenbox in Darlington, HTA Real Estate has recently brokered a 107,775 sq.ft letting to Wolseley Group on behalf of developer Citivale, with further new units of 84,947 sqft and 215,362 sqft available for lease.
The firm is also marketing a 267,000 sqft warehouse at Drum Industrial Estate and two newly developed units at Turbine Business Park in Washington which extend to 68,458 sqft and 51,376 sqft.
Richard Scott believes that although there are economic challenges, the delivery of industrial developments such as Greenbox, IAMP and Turbine Business Park are vital to provide much needed new supply and support the growth of the regional economy.
He said: “Economic factors such as the increase in the rate of employers’ National Insurance Contributions has led to some companies putting potential expansion plans on hold and the Trump tariffs are also creating some uncertainty in the global financial markets which hinder investment decisions.
“Despite these headwinds, the industrial sector remains the strongest of the commercial property markets with healthy levels of demand for good quality stock. There continues to be a shortage of supply across almost all size ranges, so new development is essential to accommodate the requirements of expanding businesses in the region and companies looking to invest here. I am very pleased to be joining HTA Real Estate, which boasts an excellent reputation and a very strong instruction book.”
In 2024, Douglas Cranston joined HTA Real Estate to lead the firm’s investment department, handling acquisitions and disposals on behalf of pension funds, property companies and private individuals.
Commenting on the growth of HTA Real Estate, director Simon Hill said: “We have had an excellent year so far and we are on course for a record year of deals in 2025. Richard is a very highly regarded operator and will play an instrumental role in the growth of the firm in the years ahead. We are delighted to bring him onboard.”
