Property consultancy Vail Williams has hired a senior surveyor directly from looking after Windsor Castle.

Historic buildings specialist Chris Bailey has been appointed in the firm’s Thames Valley regional office in Reading as an Associate to bolster the Building Consultancy team.

Chris, who also previously worked at Cluttons, Knight Frank, Savills and the National Trust, joins from the Royal Household Property Team where he worked as a senior building surveyor at Windsor Castle.

He has in-depth experience in technical due diligence, design and contract administration, project management and historic building conservation, working across both the commercial and residential sectors.

Chris, who qualified as a chartered building surveyor in 2016, has worked for clients ranging from high-net-worth individuals, landed estates, banks and building societies. He said:

“I am very pleased to have joined such a progressive firm as Vail Williams. It is the ideal time to join a major firm to challenge myself further."

“I hope to use the skills I have gained in my previous roles to continue to provide clients with the exemplary service they have come to expect.”

Thames Valley Regional Managing Partner David Barden said:

“We welcome Chris aboard as an experienced operator whose extensive historic buildings knowledge will add additional expertise to our already established building consultancy team."

“Our strategic and geographical growth – particularly the opening of our new Oxford office last month – continues at pace and our hard-working team is expanding to match the market opportunities."

“Chris, who has quickly become an appreciated member of the team, is tasked with helping to grow the building consultancy offering across the Thames Valley area."

“There is huge growth potential across the region and we are determined to benefit from these opportunities and deliver expertise, support and successful outcomes for our clients.”

Vail Williams’ full-service property advice includes commercial agency, investment and development advice, building consultancy, property valuation, planning, lease advisory, property asset management, business rates and occupier consultancy.