One Year of the Newcastle Hub

Partner at Bruton Knowles Nicholas Broadway gives his thoughts on the last year of the Newcastle hub. Nicholas, who forms part of the business’s National Valuation Team, has been instrumental to the hubs’ success since its opening in 2025. Since joining Buton Knowles as a Graduate Surveyor in 2013, he has risen through the ranks, and his role now includes a range of responsibilities focusing on valuation advice across the north.

When we opened our Newcastle hub 12 months ago, we did so with a clear ambition: to strengthen Bruton Knowles’ presence in the North East and use our national services and expertise on a regional level.

As somebody who joined the business as a graduate back in 2014 and has risen through the ranks to become Partner in 2024, it has been particularly rewarding to see this next stage of our northern growth take shape. The Newcastle hub represents a commitment to serving all areas of the UK with a truly national offering while building long-term relationships within the local area.

The contribution of the Newcastle hub has supported the wider success of our National Valuation Team, which has achieved year-on-year growth of £700,000. With hubs across Manchester, Leeds Newcastle and Glasgow, we have created a cohesive and robust northern network that allows us to combine Bruton Knowles’ national reach with regional understanding.

Being on the ground allows us to respond quickly, provide informed advice and build trusted relationships, which are all key in today’s market. From a valuation perspective, the North East presents a unique and evolving landscape. While it continues to offer attractive value compared to other regions, it is also experiencing growing institutional interest, infrastructure investment and regeneration-led development. Market nuance and understanding can materially influence lending decisions and investment strategy – and we want to be at the heart of it.

One of the most positive developments has been welcoming Donna Alderson to the team. Donna brings invaluable local valuation knowledge alongside her previous experience at Newcastle City Council. Her expertise in rent reviews and lease renewals significantly enhances our offering in the region, particularly for local businesses seeking experienced representation in managing rental liabilities and negotiating commercially sustainable lease terms as we move through 2026.

Looking ahead, I’m confident that the foundations we’ve built over the last year will continue to support growth across the North East and beyond. The Newcastle hub is already playing an important role within our national structure and I’m excited to see how it continues to evolve.

If you would like to discuss valuation advice, lease consultancy or wider property matters in the North East, we’d be delighted to hear from you: [email protected] or call on 078269 46373.