AN ESTATE agency has started its 25th year by expanding to more than 200 branches across the country.

Hunters, which opened its first office in York in 1992, has acquired Besley Hill, a long-established estate agency and franchise network in South West England.

The Bristol-based agency, which specialises in residential sales and lettings, has 15 branches in the city, Gloucestershire and surrounding counties. It dates back to the 1970s and each branch is franchised.

The acquisition brings the number of branches within the Hunters network to more than 200.

Glynis Frew, chief executive officer of Hunters Property Plc, said: “Becoming the UK’s favourite estate agent is our primary objective and increasing our presence across the country through good quality businesses is vital to achieving this.

“We are delighted to welcome the Besley Hill group of branches to Hunters as we share an ambition to grow our businesses by delivering first class customer service.

“The locality of the branches fit perfectly within our national expansion plans and gives us a significant platform in the South West property market.”

Adam Offer, managing director of Besley Hill, said: “Hunters’ national reach and reputation, combined with its strong focus on local ownership and local knowledge through its franchise model, is very exciting for us and represents great opportunities for the future.”

Mr Offer and Besley Hill’s financial director Alli Firsk-Matthews have agreed to sign up their three offices to new franchise agreements with Hunters. Both will continue to be involved in the daily running of the business.

Hunters has opened 30 branches a year for the last three years, and last year alone opened offices in London, Hampshire, Cheshire, Wiltshire, Lincolnshire and West Yorkshire. Its first franchised branch was opened in 2006.

The Hunter network handles residential sales, lettings, auctions, buy-to-let and investment, residential black management, land, new homes and other property-related services.