RPS GROUP ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF WOODS WARREN

RPS has announced the acquisition of Woods Warren Ltd, a leading firm of consulting engineers based in Milton Keynes.

Woods Warren will join RPS’ Planning, Transport and Environment Division. This division provides advice to the public and private sector about how best to secure permission to construct and implement all forms of development. Such advice often involves providing solutions to complex problems associated with development, transport and other infrastructure provision. RPS is by far the largest participant in the development market in the UK and continues to have excellent prospects.

Woods Warren is a leading provider of advice to the development industry. It was established in 1978. The business has 49 permanent staff based at its principal office in Milton Keynes and other offices in London and Manchester. All four current directors will remain with RPS following the transaction.

Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Warren, Managing Director at Woods Warren Ltd, said:

“This is a new and exciting chapter for Woods Warren, which will benefit both clients and staff. Woods Warren has doubled in size over the last three years. By joining RPS, we aim to grow even faster, benefiting both from RPS’ internal market and from the higher profile that comes with being part of the leading environmental and town planning consultancy in Europe. At the same time, we will continue to provide the same dedicated services to all our clients, and provide our staff with a wider range of opportunities for career development.

As part of RPS’ expansion, the Milton Keynes office will also provide the base for a new town planning team for this growth region.”

Ken Trew, Managing Director of the RPS Planning, Transport and Environment Division (RPS PTE), said of the acquisition:

“We are especially pleased to welcome the Woods Warren team to the Group. They bring significant new capabilities to the division, specifically in infrastructure design and engineering. Woods Warren operates in the same brownfield development sector as many of our offices where there is great potential for collaboration. There are also links with the services provided by our Water Services, Health and Safety and Energy Services divisions.”

Contact
RPS Woods Warren T 01908 669 898 F 01908 669 899 E rpsww@rpsplc.co.uk

9th December 2003

RPS is an international consultancy providing advice upon the development of natural resources, land and property, the management of the environment and the health and safety of people. We trade in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, North America and Australia and undertake projects in many other parts of the world.

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