Watling Real Estate has further strengthened its presence in the North West with the expansion of our Manchester office, following a sustained period of growth across the region.
James Bunce has joined the Manchester team, working alongside directors Chris Walker and Ian Whittaker, as we continue to build momentum and enhance our regional capabilities. His appointment follows the arrival of Dan Edmundson last summer, who has been supporting both the agency and restructuring advisory teams.
The expansion reflects increasing demand for specialist real estate and restructuring expertise across the North West, as businesses and lenders navigate a more complex and challenging economic environment.
Chris Walker, Director at Watling, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome James to the Manchester team. He brings significant expertise and further strengthens our ability to support clients as they respond to increased lender scrutiny and ongoing market challenges.
“We are well-positioned to act quickly and manage complex instructions across the region, supported by Watling’s strong national platform.”
James joins from Watling’s Leeds office, having worked across northern property markets since 2021. With over a decade of experience in restructuring and recovery, he has held roles at GVA and Avison Young before joining Watling in 2023.
Commenting on his move, James said:
“The team is currently advising on over £450 million of real estate across the North West, and we expect this to grow significantly as we move through 2026. It’s an exciting time to be part of such a dynamic and well-connected team, supporting the region’s financial and professional services community.
“My role will focus on providing strategic asset management, agency and underwriting advice across both individual assets and wider portfolios. We are working with a broad range of clients, including UK and offshore banks, alternative lenders and insolvency practitioners.
“More recently, my work has centred on operational real estate as well as ‘beds’-led development schemes, ranging from 50 to over 2,500 units. We are seeing increasing demand for support across sectors such as purpose-built student accommodation and single-family residential, and expect this trend to continue.”
Chris Walker added:
“There are strong parallels between the Leeds and Manchester markets, and James has already developed an existing network of contacts across the North West. This allows him to integrate seamlessly into the team and contribute immediately.
“As we continue to grow our presence in the region, his appointment enhances both our capacity and capability to deliver a best-in-class service to our clients and to support an expanding pipeline of instructions.”
The Manchester team is supported by our wider national network, with 18 professionals offering more than 270 years of combined experience. This depth of expertise continues to position Watling as the leading UK restructuring advisory and agency practice.
