Member News
Well-known amongst industry peers, and with offices strategically located in Newcastle and Manchester, family-owned Knowles & Co. has evolved over the years to become one of the most highly regarded Building Consultancy and Project Management firms in the UK.
With substantial expertise within the Commercial and Residential Property Sector, since inception, Knowles & Co. have followed a strong trajectory to become a leading choice for many distinguished clients with high-profile projects in the North East including Harrods Beauty, JD Sports, The Inn Collection’s ‘The Hog’s Head Inn’ to the new NHS Community Diagnostics Centre at the Metrocentre.
The company marks their 35th year in business on the one-year anniversary of completion of one of their most pivotal projects to date in the North East, the 15,000sqft expansion of Primark, Metrocentre, which now sees Primark occupy over 100,000sqft of retail space at the centre. The project ran from June 2023 to January 2024, with Knowles & Co appointed to provide Project Management and Contract Administration Services.
After completion, alongside the recent expansion of Zara, a flurry of retail instructions followed including the sub-divisions of two vacant units to bring four new Tenants to the Metrocentre and the provision of a new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre. The construction of the NHS Community Diagnostics Centre marks a major milestone in enhancing healthcare services and accessibility in the Gateshead area. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a vital site, providing advanced diagnostic services and reducing the pressure on existing NHS resources. The site opened in October 2024 and Knowles & Co were appointed by Sovereign Centros as the Project Managers for the Landlord’s element of works.
Well-respected Manchester based Chartered Building Surveyor, Robert Knowles founded the practice in 1990, and has a wealth of experience in delivering core Building Surveying instructions, in addition to undertaking project instructions. The Newcastle office was established in 2021 by Robert’s son Andrew who had previously relocated to the North East region.
Andrew Knowles, Director, Knowles & Co. said:
“An innovative spirit has spurred the company forward alongside our unrivalled commitment to excellence and building and maintaining solid relationships. The decision to join the business and open a Newcastle office has been one of the best decisions I made. Our instructions in the North East are thriving and complement the work we do in Manchester and across the UK.
The North East is a hub of opportunity, with substantial investment in the field and a number of high profile projects set to descend on the region. We were incredibly honoured to be entrusted with the project management on behalf of the Landlord for the NHS Community Diagnostics Centre. This is a significant project that will have a profound impact on the local community and marks a major milestone in enhancing healthcare services and accessibility in the north east region.
We have formed a very strong relationship with the Metrocentre and it’s great to see this project come to fruition, as it highlights the continuing need for diversification of retail to provide a variety of differing building uses within an ever-changing retail environment.”
Knowles & Co pride themselves not only on their family ethos, but also on their extensive track record and experience, which clients can trust and rely on implicitly. Founder Robert Knowles has been behind a diverse range of projects across the UK and has shaped the initial foundations of the business, built around trust, professionalism, and collaboration. From a circa £9 million Notting Hill Apartment Conversion scheme to working with Dubai’s National Air Travel Agency, Robert has forged a very successful business servicing a range of sectors.
Robert Knowles, Director, Knowles & Co. said:
“Our business was founded on strong family values; we have a very close-knit team and these values continue to run through the business as we mark our 35th year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the vision I had for the company come to life. The industry has evolved in many ways over the years, but our ethos to consistency and relationship building is key to growing and maintaining a family-run business.
We have come a long way since our founding days, with plenty of success on the horizon. The strategic move to set up a base in Newcastle was a very exciting moment for the business and bringing in Andrew’s expertise and network was instrumental in building the North East base and assists in further shaping and cementing our future.”
As an experienced Chartered Building Surveyor, Andrew has a proven track record in delivering projects for his clients with a variety of instructions, across a multitude of sectors. All eyes are now on future market opportunities for the business, as they look to further build their presence in the North East. www.knowlesco.co.uk
