Edgars planning and heritage consultancy moves to management ownership as it nears 20th year

# What changed Edgars, the Oxfordshire planning and heritage consultancy, has moved to a management-owned structure. Jon Westerman, who became a director in 2016, is now managing director following a management buyout. The transition coincides with the firm approaching its 20th anniversary.

# Leadership and continuity Founder Jayne Norris created Edgars' planning consultancy arm in 2007. She emphasised the importance of choosing the right way forward for the business and identified Westerman—who has been with Edgars for ten years—as the person to take the firm into its next phase. The company says the buyout will not affect its existing team, client relationships, or project portfolio.

Westerman brings local public- and private-sector experience. Before joining Edgars he worked at Carter Jonas and at Cherwell and West Oxfordshire district councils. At Edgars he has led major planning projects and helped expand the client base across the region.

# Business focus after the buyout Edgars intends to build on its existing strengths in planning policy, heritage matters, and development strategy. Westerman framed the next phase around four practical priorities:

• Maintain the firm's core people, expertise and client relationships.
• Strengthen its position in planning and heritage advisory work.
• Deepen ties to Oxfordshire clients and projects.
• Target more ambitious projects and organisations where the consultancy can add value.

# What stays the same The company has stated clearly that the management buyout will not disrupt staff or ongoing work. That message is aimed at reassuring landowners, developers and architects who rely on Edgars for planning input, heritage assessments and development strategy.

# Representative projects and clients Edgars has advised on a range of well-known local projects and estates. The story lists several examples of the firm's work that illustrate its sector focus and regional reach:

• Radley College
• Bloxham School
• Bicester Motion
• Daylesford
• Enstone Business Park
• Several Oxford colleges

Noted clients include the University of Oxford, Great Tew Estate, and Madresfield Estate. These references indicate the consultancy's mix of educational, heritage, commercial and estate-sector assignments.

# Why the change matters for clients and the region For existing clients, the key point is continuity: personnel and projects will continue without interruption. For local planning and development activity, Edgars' stated aim is to intensify work in planning and heritage, remaining locally rooted while seeking larger or more ambitious commissions. The combination of continuity and stated growth ambition frames the buyout as an operational handover rather than a strategic reset.

# What to watch next