Our People

Managing Partner, Head of Planning & Development, Rural Land and Compulsory Purchase.

Andrew Wright is the Managing Partner at Kirkby Diamond and heads up the Planning, Development & Compulsory Purchase team. He took over from founding partner Henry Diamond in 2006.

Whilst maintaining strong links with his Rural practice background, Andrew’s specialisation lies in Planning & Development and Compulsory Purchase. He is often called upon to facilitate negotiated settlements in property disputes.

Andrew gives evidence in County Court hearings and in the Lands Tribunal as an expert valuer. He has presented cases at Local Valuation Tribunal and represented clients at Public Inquiry. He also represents clients throughout the UK on property related compensation claims and disputed option and development agreements. His skills are also called upon to prepare proofs of evidence for Arbitration and Mediation hearings.

Luke joined the firm in June 2014 bringing with him a wealth of experience in the industrial and logistics sector having started his career in 2006. He has a prestigious and loyal client base acting for many well-known funds, asset managers and local individuals. He has been responsible for some of the most influential and high profile sales and lettings across the region. He now focusses on strategic commercial land opportunities across the region, forming part of the mid box industrial team.

Luke now oversees the practice management of the firm coupled with forming the strategic direction and general man management across all offices.

Nathan has worked within Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire for the past 20 years, advising on a wide variety of matters including minerals and waste, rating, valuation, compulsory purchase and development work.

At KD, Nathan works alongside Andrew Wright, specialising in the sale of development sites with and without planning, development appraisals, advising and representing landowners on option and promotion agreements and the negotiation of financial obligations including overage/clawback payments, ransom strips and s106 viability.

Having been involved in several compulsory purchase schemes, Nathan is also able to assist both acquiring authorities in their exercise of compulsory purchase powers, and those individuals and businesses affected by schemes.

Nathan is also a Registered Valuer, predominantly undertaking agricultural valuations for secure lending along with private valuations for a wide range of properties and purposes including of development land and corporate and local authority owned assets and for expert witness and tax purposes.

Alex recently graduated from Oxford Brookes University having studied Planning and Property Development and was proud to have been awarded the Top Performing Student Award.

His areas of interest include valuation, development planning and land law which will provide an excellent introduction to the varied disciplines of the Planning and Development team.

Alex will be assisting Nathan Andrews and Andrew Wright in their day-to-day roles and will also become actively involved in the assembly, promotion and marketing of development sites across the region.  

A golfer, cricketer and keen shot, Alexander has a competitiveness which shines through in his business acumen.

Alexander is aiming to achieve his chartered status at the earliest opportunity and is delighted to be part of the Kirkby Diamond Team. 

Chris has over sixteen years experience as a planning consultant, having graduated from the University of Sheffield in 1997. He works across both large and small projects, providing both detailed planning and strategic advice.

Chris has experience across a range of development sectors, including leisure and commercial uses. He has particular experience of promoting retail developments. Chris also works in the residential sector, including care homes and retirement schemes.

He is able to provide planning advice at all stages of the development process, from initial site appraisals and advice on development options, through to the submission of applications and appeals. Chris regularly acts as an expert witness at planning inquiries.

Jonathan has over 11 years’ experience working within planning, with 9 years within Local Government, after completing his Masters in Spatial Planning at Oxford Brookes University in 2009. 

He works across a number of sectors including both small and large-scale projects, and has particular experience with Section 106 and CIL matters, having been involved in the Government’s CIL Front Runners Programme and managing the Planning Obligations Team in Local Government for over 6 years prior to becoming a planning consultant.  

Jonathan can provide planning advice for a range of schemes from the inception of a proposal through to the submission of applications and the provision of specific advice for CIL or Section 106 queries, negotiation support and completion of CIL forms / Section 106 Legal Agreements.  

Henry Diamond has practised in Milton Keynes for over 30 years, initially with the early development of the City with the Development Corporation and, for the last 20 years, as joint founding Partner of Kirkby & Diamond Chartered Surveyors.

He is well known locally, having also served for a number of years on the Board of the Milton Keynes Training and Enterprise Council. He retired from the Partnership in his 60th year after 10 years as Managing Partner, but remains as a very active consultant, principally looking after a number of long standing and major corporate and private clients.

Adam qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2016 having trained at the Kirkby Diamond.

Adam is the Head of Kirkby Diamond’s Valuation Department where he provides advice to clients on a variety of commercial and residential properties, using his knowledge of technical property matters and the local property markets.

Enthusiastic about property, Adam’s specialties include valuations for a multitude of purposes including secured lending, portfolio, development, taxation and acquisition purposes. Adam regularly acts for Freeholders and Leaseholders on residential Leasehold Reform (Lease Extension) cases and Commercial Landlord Tenant matters.

In his spare time, Adam can often be heard playing his guitar or seen walking his dog, normally via a nice pub…

Nathan joined Kirkby Diamond in January 2013 and has over 15 years experience working in the local residential and commercial property markets. Having completed a Diploma in Surveying Practice in 2011, Nathan continued his studies whilst working full time and obtained a 1st Class Honours Degree in Building Surveying from The College of Estate Management in Reading. Through continued self-improvement, Nathan successfully qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2019 and is now a proud member of the RICS.

His previous role was working within the market leading commercial agency department where he built an excellent reputation as a competent deal maker capable of adapting to all sectors of the commercial property market. Following continued success in this role Nathan was promoted to Head of Lease Advisory in 2021 and now focuses on commercial rent reviews and lease renewals. Nathan acts for a wide range of clients including national and local property companies, investment funds, charities, local landlords and business owners across the industrial, office and retail sectors.

Nathan is also an RICS Registered Valuer and continues to work closely with his Agency, Property Management and Building Consultancy colleagues.

Mark has a wealth of experience in both the professional and agency sectors across the industrial, office and retail markets, which enables him to provide in depth commercial property knowledge and advice to clients.  

Having started his career at Kirkby Diamond in 2007, undertaking a wide variety of general practice work across Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, Mark qualified as a chartered surveyor in 2010 before moving to London and joining the valuation advisory team at DTZ (Cushman & Wakefield) in 2012, where he gained a wealth of experience in valuing and analysing all property sectors across the country for both secured lending and regulatory purposes, including development appraisals, for major UK and international banks plus major UK institutions and property companies.  A major part of the role involved linking up with the agency and capital market teams, as part of providing specialist and strategic advice, in particular, assessing how asset management initiatives could impact value.

Mark joined Brown & Lee (Milton Keynes) as an Associate Partner in 2018, where he continued to undertake general practice work,  specialising in asset management, agency, valuation, lease renewals and rent reviews for both private clients and local property companies.

Mark re-joined Kirkby Diamond as a Partner in 2021, following the merger with Brown & Lee, and now heads up the professional services department, overseeing the L&T and valuation departments.

Away from the office, Mark enjoys playing golf, regular family ski trips, scuba diving and for his sins, is an avid Arsenal supporter.

Following a promising start as a National Hunt jockey whereby he was associated with many top class horses, Jimmy decided to pursue a career in real estate and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2001. Since then, he has worked in-house for one of the top four accountancy practices and also for one of the largest international property consultancies.

Now, having obtained 20 years’ experience in the valuation of a wide range of property assets within the commercial and industrial property sectors, Jimmy decided to join Kirkby Diamond in 2013.

Jimmy is responsible for providing well established High Street lenders and specialist finance houses with extensive valuation advice for secured lending purposes as well as to private clients and property companies for accounting, taxation and other purposes.

At weekends Jimmy enjoys a range of outdoor activities such as cycling, running and horse riding.

Darren qualified as a Chartered Valuation Surveyor in 2009, working in Oxford and providing valuation advice to private and public sector clients for a range of purposes including secured lending, taxation, company accounts, local authority accounts and managed office and industrial parks in Oxfordshire.

He first started working in Milton Keynes in 2013, specialising in the valuation of retail, office industrial and mixed-use properties for secured lending purposes and undertaking development appraisals, and has since worked for firms in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, broadening his valuation skills.

Darren joined Kirkby Diamond in 2021 and has a wealth of experience of valuing properties across the northern Home Counties, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and East Anglia.

As a keen cyclist, Darren has ridden from Carcassonne to Barcelona, and from Geneva to Milan, raising money for charity.

David is a chartered surveyor and arbitrator. He has a vast experience across all sectors of the market, having been involved in the property sector for over 40 years. He is widely recognised as one of the leading landlord and tenant specialists in the region. He is also an arbitrator and has acted as independent expert in court on numerous occasions.

He was previously a joint owner of a leading regional practice and headed the landlord and tenant team of one of the largest property consultants in the UK.

David heads the Asset and property management team in Milton Keynes and Bedford.

He brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm with him.

Jean has a wide spread of experience, having trained in both Local Authority and the Valuation Office (HMRC), before transferring to private practice. This, alongside her rural background and urban experience within the Luton office over many years has given her a rounded view of the needs of business.

Previously a partner with Roger Evans, a longstanding private practice based in Luton, Jean became a partner of Kirkby and Diamond in 1998 after the practices merged in 1996. Subsequently Jean retired from the partnership in 2021 to become a consultant.

Jean specialises in residential leasehold enfranchisement work, both lease extensions and collective enfranchisements, for both freeholders and lessees, having appeared at Tribunal on numerous occasions.

The majority of her work is in the commercial property field. In the landlord and tenant sector, she advises business clients on rent reviews and lease renewals and preparing valuations of assets for accounts and pension fund purposes.

Jean also undertakes pre-acquistion surveys, (both commercial and residential) and prepares schedules of dilapidations on leasehold commercial properties.

Steven is a well experienced and respected chartered surveyor that has been working in the area since the early 1980s, with some clients still being with him from his early days.  Previously a partner in Brown & Lee - the Milton Keynes office having merged with Kirkby Diamond, to enhance the KD operation.

Over the years he’s dealt with a wide range of commercial property matters, including agency, rating and management, his specialisation is in dealing with rent reviews and lease renewals, including acting as independent expert and arbitrator, receiving appointments from both the RICS and independently.

Outside work he enjoys scuba diving, shooting, rugby, the gym and skiing (and is threatening to pick up some golf clubs again)

Mark, a Chartered Building Surveyor, joined Kirkby Diamond in July 2008. He Heads the Building Consultancy Team to deliver building surveying and project management instructions across Kirkby Diamond.

Mark provides a range of building surveying services including schedules of condition, building surveys, dilapidation and party wall matters for commercial properties. In addition to this, Mark works for residential clients undertaking building surveys, party wall matters and diagnostic inspections.

With varying types of clients, of differing sizes, Mark is able to advise Landlords, tenants, owners or purchasers alike.

Working with a wide range of clients, and building types, Mark is often involved on project management roles for commercial, residential and education based clients, taking projects from inception through to completion.

Covering all aspects of building surveying, Paul has built up a wide variety of experience throughout his 15 years in the profession. 

Paul employs a straightforward approach to surveying but is not afraid to challenge the usual ways of working to deliver the objectives required of him and his team. This provides a bespoke service to clients, which in turn delivers success and stability.

Paul’s work ethic has created a positive working environment where collaboration between the business divisions has fostered a successful combined working environment. Understanding that working together and providing a team of experts in their field to leverage performance is paramount to meeting Clients’ needs.

In his spare time Paul enjoys playing and listening to live music and is a member of his local Carnival committee.

Grant gained a BSc (Hons) from University of Reading in 2010, and then worked in the Civil Engineering sector where he focused on major infrastructure projects for 4 years before joining Kirkby Diamond in February 2015.

Grant completed his APC training and achieved his Chartered status in 2017. Since becoming Chartered, Grant has been involved in a wide range of Building Surveying work with sound knowledge of Pre-Acquisition Surveys for residential and commercial properties, Schedules of Condition and Party Wall matters.

Working predominantly on Project Management, contract administration roles and Dilapidations matters, Grant has an excellent track record of results for both landlords and tenants.

Ben is a graduate in our building consultancy team. He is currently working towards becoming MRICS.

Ben supports both Mark and Grant in their daily roles as building surveyors.

Jon is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry.

Services provided include Contract Administration, Employer’s Agent on Design and Build Contracts, Construction Contract Advice, Insurance Valuations and Feasibility Studies on New Projects.

Luke joined the firm in June 2014 bringing with him a wealth of experience in the industrial and logistics sector having started his career in 2006. He has a prestigious and loyal client base acting for many well-known funds, asset managers and local individuals. He has been responsible for some of the most influential and high profile sales and lettings across the region. He now focusses on strategic commercial land opportunities across the region, forming part of the mid box industrial team.

Luke now oversees the practice management of the firm coupled with forming the strategic direction and general man management across all offices.

Eamon joined Kirkby Diamond in September 2000 to assist the commercial agency department in the St Albans office, along with training to become a Chartered Surveyor. Qualifying in 2005, he was promoted to Associate Partner and in February 2008 he was appointed as a full partner of the firm.

Eamon now heads the commercial agency departments throughout the practice working along the A1/ M1 corridor. 

He provides a comprehensive range of professional advice and agency services throughout the different sectors to well- known funds, asset managers, private property companies and the public sector throughout the UK. 

The agency team has been awarded the most active agent in Bedfordshire for the eighth consecutive year.

Associate, Head of Commercial Agency - Bedford Office

Andrew provides a comprehensive range of advice and agency services throughout North and Central Bedfordshire having joined Kirkby Diamond in 2012 to provide a comprehensive agency service to the area.

Andrew has worked in the property agency sector in Bedford since 1983 providing a specialist agency service for landlords, tenants and purchasers in respect of all aspects and types of commercial premises. Andrew has provided professional agency services to individual clients as well as major companies and PLC's, whilst seeking to always provide a personal touch. This has resulted in the creation of long standing and on-going working relationships with clients and a reputation for providing carefully considered advice.

Andrew is a multiple winner of the Estates Gazette award for The Most Active Agent in Bedfordshire.”

Paul Gallagher, formerly of Gallagher and Associates (GAA), will lead the agency expansion along the M1/A1 Corridor for Kirkby Diamond, which has traditionally focused on the Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes areas.

He is a highly experienced general practice surveyor who has worked in the property industry for more than 30 years. His extensive career includes 23 years at Lambert Smith Hampton as a director and head of the agency team in the Hertfordshire office.

He has specialised in the Hertfordshire market throughout his 34-year career as a general practitioner in the office and industrial sectors in respect of acquisitions, disposals and landlord and tenant work, and acted as expert witness at planning appeals.

Diccon has worked in commercial agency along the M1 corridor since 1998, undertaking all forms of commercial agency work including management, acquisition, disposals and strategic advice. Clients include institutional funds, private investment vehicles and individuals and has been providing advice on behalf of both owners and occupiers, on both a transactional and advisory basis.

Diccon has specialised in the industrial market since 2005 and has extensive knowledge of the local area in terms of the available and the up-coming sites, where commercial development may be enabled.

Paul has worked in the property industry for 22 years and has specialised in industrial/ Business space and investment agency since 2006.

His career includes spells at Lambert Smith Hampton in Milton Keynes, Stretton’s in east London and Bowyer Bryce in north London and Hertfordshire, covering the M11, A10, A1 and M1 corridors for the past 14 years.

Having moved out from London a few years ago Paul joined Kirkby Diamond to work alongside head of commercial agency in Bedford, Andrew Clarke, as well as Paul Gallagher in Borehamwood to develop Kirkby Diamond's southern corridor presence. In November 2021, Paul moved to the Milton Keynes office to be head of commercial agency there. 

Nick joined the firm in August 2014 having previously worked for a local practice looking after the agency operations across the Milton Keynes and surrounds.

Nick focuses primarily on the office and retail sectors across the local region. He has an intricate knowledge of local centres, office buildings and business parks having been responsible for over 100 lettings of similar property types.

Nick has been responsible for some of the largest vacant possession sales of offices and retail properties in Milton Keynes.

Andrew is a Chartered Surveyor and was the founding Partner of Brown & Lee, which merged with Kirkby Diamond in December 2021. He has been involved in commercial property for over 40 years with 30 years exposure to the Milton Keynes & Bedford area. He covers a broad range of work including Agency and Landlord & Tenant representation for both national and local clients.

Before joining Kirby Diamond, Richard was a director at Lambert Smith Hampton for 9 years and then a partner at Brown & Lee for 15 years.

He acts for many key clients, predominantly in the Bedfordshire area, using his many years of experience and back yard knowledge to advise on land, industrial and office instructions.

Richard has been instrumental in bringing some of the area’s largest deals to the market and, as a result, is a well-known figure in the region’s commercial property market.

Courtney joined Kirkby Diamond in 2019 as an apprentice surveyor, studying an RICS related degree at Nottingham Trent University, on day release.

She works within both the transaction and professional sides of the business within the Luton office.

Joshua joined Kirkby Diamond in 2022 as an Associate Agency Surveyor, covering the Luton/Bedfordshire market.

Joshua has gained a wealth of experience as an Agency Surveyor having previously worked for Stimpsons Eves within the Bedfordshire market for approximately 6-years where he worked in all sectors of the commercial property market.

In addition to his agency work, Joshua was also involved in property management matters, handling a range of portfolios which has given him a good understanding of the bigger picture & landlord's needs, when it comes to commercial agency.

Lisa joined Kirkby Diamond in January 2021 as Director of Property Management.

Lisa has over 18 years’ experience managing diverse portfolios of offices, retail, industrial, leisure complexes, land and residential properties on behalf of landlords, private investors, national retailers and landowners both locally and nationally.

Dealing with new lettings, day to day property management, consent applications, service charges, asset management, L&T issues and compliance, Lisa is well placed to provide clients with an exceptional level of service ensuring that property risks are minimised.

David is a chartered surveyor and arbitrator. He has a vast experience across all sectors of the market, having been involved in the property sector for over 40 years. He is widely recognised as one of the leading landlord and tenant specialists in the region. He is also an arbitrator and has acted as independent expert in court on numerous occasions.

He was previously a joint owner of a leading regional practice and headed the landlord and tenant team of one of the largest property consultants in the UK.

David heads the Asset and property management team in Milton Keynes and Bedford.

He brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm with him.

Paul has over 35 years experience in the commercial property sector.

He specialises in asset management, in the retail, office and industrial sectors, but also has hands on experience in property management, landlord and tenant work and commercial agency, acting for a range of private investors.

Paul also has experience in the science park sector and in acting for children’s day nurseries for a range of clients

India joined Kirkby Diamond in 2016 working within the property management department as a client accountant. She looks after the daily running and administration of service charge and rent collection.

Donna joined Kirkby Diamond in 2015 to help in the expansion of Kirkby Diamond's Property Management department.

Donna has worked for several well known practices across the region and in turn has looked after the accounts of some of the leading names within the industry.

She now works alongside the other property managers within the practice ensuring all account related matters run smoothly.

Steve Cable joined Kirkby Diamond in 2012 as a commercial agency assistant in our Milton Keynes office. He then moved to the Luton office in 2013, to support the commercial agency team. Steve assisted with the day to day running of the Luton Agency, whilst training to become an independent Commercial Agency Surveyor. During his time in Luton, the team won the Estates Gazette Deal Winner award for the most active agents in Bedfordshire, for five years consecutively.

Steve has worked within the property sector for over 11 years dealing within all sectors of leasehold and freehold disposals, both residential and commercial, covering Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

In August 2017, Steve joined Property Management in Milton Keynes to assist with the demand and growth of the successful department. With his accumulated experience, Steve is able to competently advise clients on their buildings / assets and provide professional advice to ensure investments work to their full potential and maximise profit rent. Steve also assists with rent reviews and lease renewals.

Since joining Kirkby Diamond, Steve has proved to be a highly competent asset with a tireless work ethic.

Josh joined Granby Martin in June 2019 after completing a Real Estate degree at Birmingham City University.

Following Granby Martin’s acquisition by Kirkby Diamond in 2020, Josh is working in the property management department and is currently working towards his APC.

Angela joined Kirkby Diamond in 2020 but has worked for Granby Martin since 2018.

Angela works closely with suppliers and tenants to ensure the smooth running of the accounts department. 

Her key strength is “Credit Control” – With once being referred to as a Rottweiler!

Bryan joined Kirkby Diamond in November 2021 as a Facilities Manager reporting to the Director of Property Management.

Bryan brings a strong background, wealth of knowledge and a proven record in engineering and facilities management with 36 years' experience with high profile international companies.

Alongside his building and engineering qualifications, Bryan holds a Diploma in Safety Management, is a member of the British Safety Council and a qualified Risk Assessor which gives an holistic approach in enabling facility operating costs are kept to a minimum, ensuring that all third party contractor activities comply with the legal, Health and Safety and Environmental regulations while ensuring high quality of workmanship.

Bryan is also a long time member of the Milton Keynes Health and Safety Group and sits on the committee as the group’s program secretary. This enables networking with like minded professionals but also helps keep up to date with the fast moving world of safety legislation.

Dealing with the portfolio of properties on a day to day basis and working with the Property Management Team, Bryan will be focused on providing our clients with a high level of service while giving peace of mind that their properties risks are managed to a minimum and compliant.

Chloe joined Kirkby Diamond in October 2021 and is responsible for Accounts Payable.
Working closing with the Property Managers and the Accounts Team to ensure accurate and prompt payments.
Chloe’s key strengths are her attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.

Sam has over 15 years’ experience within the commercial property sector, having started with a legal background and then moving on to estate and asset management both in-house and client side. Sam has worked on national portfolios but also has a strong knowledge of Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire’s and Bedfordshire’s geographic.

Sam’s responsibilities include but are not limited to full property and asset management for institutional, occupational and private sector clients.  More particularly, L&T matters, overseeing facilities management and H&S compliance, statement reporting, service charge budgeting, rent collection and debt recovery.

Sam also enjoys project managing refurbishments, renovations and restorations and getting involved in estate acquisitions, disposals, development and planning.

Derek Bird joined Kirkby Diamond in 2022 after spending 25 years in the Serviced Office sector. Five years working for a leading Service Office provider, setting up and managing new locations across the UK, Europe and the Far East.

For the last 20 years Derek has been working as a Serviced Office broker, working solely on behalf of clients seeking flexible office solutions. His key strengths are client management and business development.

Derek is now a Property Manager, managing a multitude of clients and properties across Beds, Herts and Bucks.

He is a keen golfer, live music fan, and a Nottingham Forest fan for his sins!

Courtney joined Kirkby Diamond in 2022 to help in the expansion of Kirkby Diamond's Property Management department. 

Courtney has several years' experience within the service charge consultancy industry in dealing with the lease expense management for tenants and has looked after the accounts of some of the leading names within the industry.
 
She now works within our property management department alongside our other property managers in the practice, ensuring all account related matters run smoothly and looks after the daily running and administration of service charge collection.