THE rating team in the north-west operation of commercial property consultancy Knight Frank has been appointed to advise a leading garden centre chain.

The team will advise The Garden Centre Group (formerly Wyevale) on its portfolio across the region.

The appointment will see the north-west team advise on over 20 individual garden centres and comes as the consultancy has accrued a number of contract wins in the sector.

It has also worked with regionally-based companies including EH Williams, Barton Grange and Dunscar.Š

The combined rateable value for the Garden Centre Group is in excess of £15m, across a portfolio comprising 150 properties.

The chain operates garden centres in Liverpool and the Wirral, together with Brock and Preston, in Lancashire.

Martin Howard, head of rating at Knight Frank, said: “This significant win demonstrates our expertise within this sector and our first- class understanding of the business.

“As the economy continues to struggle, sectors which may not have previously considered investigating rates in buoyant times are now looking at every opportunity to save money.”