AN independent Bradford estate agency has strengthened its national Land and New Homes specialism after a post-election surge in demand.

Linley & Simpson, with offices at Ilkley, Saltaire and Skipton, has appointed James Curtis-Bean as New Homes Sales Consultant, bringing with him more than a decade of property and marketing experience.

Launched just five years ago with a single member of staff and six properties, the department now employs eight specialists and has seen its new home sales portfolio grow to over 600 - with more than double that number in the pipeline.

Mr Curtis-Bean returns to his Yorkshire roots after spending the past 12 years in Australia, where he delivered sales and marketing strategies for a raft of major property developers across the country. He had previously worked in the automotive industry for brands such as Lotus and Proton, including a spell in Kuala Lumpur.

He joins a team that was crowned Best Land and New Homes specialist in the UK at the industry’s Oscars in London in December. It drew judges’ praise for the raft of initiatives it has designed to support Yorkshire housebuilders in launching their developments to market.

He said: “It’s great to be back home in Yorkshire, especially with so many developers returning to the marketplace and the new homes sector becoming more vibrant as a result.

“Yorkshire is brimming with no shortage of striking new homes coming to market and I’m looking forward to swopping the Gold Coast for the East Coast, Sydney to Skipton, and Brisbane to Bingley in helping them reach their potential.”

Director of Land and New Homes at Linley & Simpson, David Waddington, said: “We are delighted that James has transferred his skills 10,000 miles from Australia back to his home county, especially amid a New Year spike in buyer demand.

“He adds a fresh dimension and insight to the service we provide to a growing client base of landowners and developers, which is now supported by a network of 18 branches covering all corners of North and West Yorkshire.”