COMPANY PROFILE
Both Les Byrom and Huw Thomas left their former companies and set up in practice, initially on their own accounts (in Southport and Birkenhead), but working very closely together. A move to Hamilton Square, Birkenhead precipitated the creation of the new style and the amalgamation of the two sole trading companies into a partnership
Byrom and Thomas, Chartered Surveyors
The new company was set up in 1991 with the two established offices. In the summer of 1994 a further office was added at 54 Castle Street, Liverpool to provide a base for surveying and valuation services in the Liverpool City centre and to give full coverage of the Counties of Merseyside, Cheshire, West Lancashire and the North West regions generally.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY COVER
Byrom and Thomas maintain professional indemnity cover with Royal & Sun Alliance, an approved insurer of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
ACCOUNTANTS
The firm uses the practice of McEwan Wallace , Chartered Accountants, 68 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6AF. The partner dealing with the Byrom & Thomas accounts is Mr T. P. Cochrane, BA., ACA.
THE PARTNERS
Leslie T. Byrom, CBE, FRICS.
Les
Byrom commenced his professional practice with the Valuation Office of
the Inland Revenue in 1974. With the Inland Revenue he studied for the
external examinations of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors,
studying with an external course of the University of Reading, College
of Estate Management which is a nationally recognised centre for the landed
profession. The Valuation Office gives a grounding background in commercial
and domestic property valuation, rating, planning, compulsory purchase
and taxation.
In 1980 he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor with the designation ARICS and in 1990 became a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors with the designation FRICS.
In
1982 he joined the long established firm of H.H. & J. Robinson as
a valuation surveyor and in 1984 became an Associate Partner.
In
1987 H.H. & J. Robinson was acquired by the Halifax Building Society
and a separate valuation division was established named Colleys.
In
1988 Les Byrom became Regional Executive in charge of Colleys for Merseyside
with the responsibility for the valuation of all classes of properties.
In his private life, in 1985 Les Byrom was elected as a Councillor on
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, representing Southport and served
on the Social Services and Policy Committee amongst others. He is currently
one of the Council Leaders and a Cabinet Member with responsibility for
Corporate Resources.
This
connection with social services and property, following closely on the
Registered Homes Act, 1984 which saw a large increase in the development
of nursing homes, naturally led him to take a lead role in the valuation
of nursing homes for the whole of the firm of H.H. & J. Robinson.
Les
ran for Parliament for the Knowsley South Constituency in 1991 and the
Wirral South constituency in 1997. He was also a European Candidate in
1999.
With a background in the Valuation Office he has experience of valuing most types of commercial property and dealing with compulsory purchase , planning and related professional advice with H.H. & J. Robinson, Halifax property services and in private practice since.
In 2007 Les Byrom was honoured in the Queens Birthday List and awarded a CBE.
D. Huw Thomas, BSc. FRICS., FBEng, MEWI.
Huw
Thomas commenced his professional career with the Valuation Office of
the Inland Revenue in 1975. Whilst studying for the external examinations
of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he also decided to study
for a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Estate Management. He was therefore
granted a period of leave from the Inland Revenue and obtained his degree
in 1984. Upon returning to the Valuation Office, he was elected as associate
of the Rating and Valuation Association and five years later was elected
a fellow of the Rating and Valuation Association.
In
1986, he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor with the designation ARICS
and in 1991 was elevated to Fellowship, with the designation FRICS.
In
1984 he joined the long established firm of Smith & Sons as a Valuation
Surveyor, and in 1986 became an Associate Partner.
In
1988 he joined the firm of H.H. & J. Robinson as a valuation surveyor,
this firm had recently been acquired by Halifax Building Society and shortly
after, the name was changed to Colleys.
In
1990 Huw decided the time was right to establish his own practice working
very closely with Les Byrom and the following year the two practices merged
into the current partnership.
Huw
Thomas has been involved within the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
for many years, being a former Merseyside and Isle of Man Junior Organisation
Chairman and also a former General Practice Division Chairman. In addition
Huw has served on a number of national committees for a number of years
and was involved in the re-writing of the Guidance Notes for Mortgage
Valuations.
Although for a number of years there has been an emphasis on residential valuations, Huw has throughout his career been involved in the valuation of commercial and industrial property throughout Merseyside , with particular emphasis on the Wirral and Liverpool areas and indeed there are a number of retained clients who have followed Huw through the various career moves, commencing with Smith & Sons, and are still with the current partnership.
PROJECTS
UNDERTAKEN
CLIENT
- HOUSING ACTION TRUST
Description
of work - Ingoing schedule of condition C. 15,000 sq. ft - new office
suite.
Byrom & Thomas consulted to provide board level advice on Right to
Buy valuations of Housing Trust Portfolio, including the valuation of
some 15 existing cases, and ongoing valuation advice on future Right to
Buy Properties. Also consulted on general housing and valuation related
matters to this major housing client.
CLIENT
- MAJOR BANK
Description of work - Advising as to value of development site, advising
as to end value of site when developed and advising as to the likely cost
of the development and time scales. In addition, throughtout the project,
we monitored the development and advised in respect of tranche releases.
CLIENT
- MAJOR BANK
Description of work - Advising client in respect of potential Town Centre
Mixed Use Development including two restaurants, offices and residential
uses, advice including value of site, value of development when completed,
cost of development and monitoring of development for client.
CLIENT
- PROPERTY INVESTOR
Description - Advising in respect of leasehold enfranchisement and negotiating
new leases with tenant's surveyor.
MAJOR
LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER SOLICITORS / NATIONAL LOSS ADJUSTERS
Expert witness reports and court preparation,
claims against other professionals, defence and prosecution of claims.
In addition we regularly carry out valuations for security purposes for a number of Banks, including Barclays PLC, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank and the Yorkshire Bank. Also reports on development projects (including feasibility studies) for retail, industrial, commercial and health care properties.