The GTH Partnership
Greenslade Taylor Hunt is one of the largest and longest established firms of Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers, Property Specialists and Letting Agents in the South West, with over 170 years experience – and still independently owned to this day.
Duncan joined GTH in April 2003 having previously been a Director of a well-known Westminster based firm in Central London and has 32 years' experience dealing with commercial property. He specialises in the acquisition and disposal of all types of commercial property including shops, offices, industrial premises, development sites and investments.<br><br>He also has considerable experience in landlord & tenant negotiations, including rent reviews and lease renewals, and has acted as an Expert Witness in numerous arbitration, independent expert, mediation, tribunal and court referrals.<br><br>Duncan is a committee member of Taunton's Lord's Taverners charity and supports other charities, including Arts Taunton.
Duncan Brown FRICS IRRV
Chairman, Partner - Commercial Surveyor & Valuer
01823 334455
Email Duncan
Claire is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, and provides a range of planning consultancy services across the South West. She joined GTH in August 2017, having worked in private planning consultancy since early 2014 at both Savills and Smiths Gore. Prior to this, Claire worked for ten years as a planning officer, based in the South West. Her involvement in planning includes the early inception stage with planning appraisals through to project management on major development proposals. Claire became an Associate in 2019.
Claire Alers-Hankey BSc, MSc, MRTPI
Partner
01823 334466
Email Claire
Jeremy is an experienced multi-faceted Agricultural Valuer and Auctioneer, both heading up and conducting regular collective land and property auctions in the North Somerset area as well as being on the rostrum at Sedgemoor Auction Centre selling primestock cattle.<br><br>Jeremy's other fields of expertise include agri-business advice, estate management and agricultural landlord and tenant, rural planning consultancy and rating appeals. Jeremy is based at our most northern office at Redhill, Bristol.
Jeremy Bell FAAV, FARLA, FLAA
Partner
0117 203 5577
Email Jeremy
Graeme is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and a fellow of the agricultural valuers' association (FAAV), working out of our Tiverton and Exeter offices. Graeme joined the partnership in 2018 and undertakes a wide variety of agency and professional work throughout Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, with a particular emphasis on the sale of rural property and farms, formal RICS valuation work, renewable energy and compensation matters. He chairs our professional services committee and also oversees the marketing department. In his spare time Graeme enjoys various board sports and water sports, as well as exploring the South West with his family.
Graeme Biffen MRICS FAAV
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
01884 243000
Email Graeme
Derek joined WRJ Greenslade & Co in 1983 from Berry Bros in Northampton. A dairy farmer’s son from Castle Cary in Somerset, he trained at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and was articled at RB Taylor & Son in Yeovil in 1978. Derek became an equity partner in 1986 at the age of 27. He heads up the farm sales department as a specialist live and deadstock auctioneer and spends up to two days a week at Sedgemoor Auction Centre. In 2009 he took over the management of the antiques department based at The Octagon Saleroom, Taunton, where he, along with his team, including his wife Samantha, conduct monthly Antique and Specialist Sales, as well as General Sales staged at Sedgemoor Auction Centre. He is on the Arbitrator’s panel for specialist livestock valuations of all types. He is actively involved in carrying out TB valuations in Wales and in his spare time he manages his livestock farm in the Vale of Taunton.
Derek Biss FRICS FAAV
Partner and Auctioneer
01278 410251
Email Derek
Mark was born and raised in North Devon and is a farmer's son. He joined Greenslade Taylor Hunt in 2016 as an Associate from a FTSE 250 property consultancy business, where he had worked for nearly 9-years. Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with nearly 20-years PQE.<br><br>He has worked in the South West for the majority of his career and specialises in all aspects of development work, including development agency, consultancy, valuation and strategic land.<br><br>Mark also has a keen interest in farming and renewable energy having had a personal interest in the 66MWp Fullabrook wind farm and the 4.5MWp Luscott Barton solar farm. Mark became a Partner in January 2019.
Mark Chugg BSc Hons MSc MRICS
Partner, Head of Development Land & Planning
01823 334466
Email Mark
Graham heads the Development, Land & Planning department specialising in the disposal of residential development, land and property throughout the South West region providing planning and valuation advice to a wide range of clients including private landowners, banks and local authorities. Graham became a partner of GTH in 2000 following a 10 year period working in Exeter and Somerset County Council. Graham also heads the New Homes' division, a specialist department, recognising the marketing needs of small and large developers.
Graham Ford
Partner
01823 334466
Email Graham
Will grew up close to the Devon/Somerset border and having gone to school at Queen's College in Taunton progressed to study Rural Land Management at The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester. This was followed by three years working for a national firm of land agents in Kent where he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer. Having joined GTH in 2004, he now manages the Honiton office and was made a Partner of the firm in 2015.<br> <br>With over 20 years’ experience in the property industry, Will now focuses on all rural property matters and deals primarily with the professional valuation and sale of farms, equestrian property, smallholdings, country houses and land. In addition he does a variety of professional work and is also familiar to many farmers throughout the South West as an auctioneer at Sedgemoor Auction Centre where he sells the stores.
William Handel MRICS, FAAV
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
01404 46222
Email William
Simon is the Head of Residential Sales for GTH having joined the firm in 2000 and becoming a Partner in 2005. After seven very successful years in Sherborne and a brief spell in Bridgwater, Simon opened a new branch in the Cathedral city of Wells in 2012. Simon hails from Taunton and has been an Estate Agent in the West Country since 1988.
Simon Havens MNAEA MARLA
Partner
01935 415300
Email Simon
Justin originally joined RB Taylor & Sons in 1995 and ran the firm's Milk Quota Department. In 2001 he took over the Farms and Rural Property Department based at Yeovil and now deals with the valuation, sale and purchase of farms, equestrian, country property, development property and land on behalf of farmers and individuals throughout Somerset and Dorset. Justin qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1990, became a Partner in 2005 and regularly conducts the property auctions in the Dorset and South Somerset areas on behalf of the firm.
Justin Lowe MRICS
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
01935 415300
Email Justin
Tom joined Greenslade Taylor Hunt in 2005, working within the milk quota department in Taunton. He was sponsored by GTH to undertake correspondence courses in both a Diploma in Surveying Practice and then an Honours Degree in Estate Management. Subsequently he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2013 and a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2016. Tom relocated offices to Sedgemoor Auction Centre when it opened its doors in 2008, with his varied work load now including Red Book valuations, compensation claims, tenancy matters, subsidy claims, machinery auctions and any other rural professional matters. Tom also has a regular auctioneering slot at Sedgemoor, where he can be found selling sheep each Saturday. Tom became a Partner in 2020.
Tom Mellor MRICS FAAV
Partner
01278 410250
Email Tom
Sally joined R B Taylor and Son's during 1995 having graduated from Reading University with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Rural Resource Management. Following the merger with Greenslade Hunt in 1997 Sally undertook a correspondence course with the College of Estate Management to allow her to obtain her Chartered Surveyor qualifications. The daughter of a Dorset dairy farmer Sally was well placed to start selling dairy cattle in 2001 when she was also made an associate, her involvement with the farm sales department has continued over the past 20 years as she has developed her professional involvement with various Estates and Landlords whilst managing the Dorchester Office and has been an Agricultural Partner with the firm since 2016. Sally became a Partner of the firm in 2020.
Sally Mitchell MRICS
Partner
01305 268786
Email Sally
Tony Overhill joined WRJ Greenslade & Co in 1989 as a Senior Assistant and became an Equity Partner in 1992 on the merger of WRJ Greenslade & Co and FL Hunt & Son. Initially heading the firm's Farm and Land Sales division in Taunton, he moved to Tiverton in 1996 to open the first Devon office. His speciality remains Rural Agency, although he also undertakes a wide range of Valuation and associated Professional work including the preparation of Expert witness reports, planning appraisals and compensation claims. The son of a Kentish farmer, Tony takes a keen interest in all rural affairs, as well as enjoying part time farming, property renovation and sailing.
Tony Overhill FRICS FAAV
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
01884 243000
Email Tony
Martyn is a second generation chartered surveyor who joined GTH in 2004 straight from agricultural college. He quickly progressed into agricultural professional and valuation work and had a regular slot selling livestock at Taunton market. Martyn moved into farm and rural agency, qualifying as a chartered surveyor in 2007. From here Martyn specialised in selling country properties based in the Taunton office. In 2011 Martyn was made an Associate and in 2012 he was asked to run the residential office in Bridgwater whilst still selling in the market on a Saturday. Martyn was made a partner at Greenslade Taylor Hunt in 2017 and in 2018 was promoted to run the residential office in Taunton.<br><br>In his spare time he enjoys fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting and walking his black Labrador, Bear. Spending time with his family and working in the garden are other priorities along with the occasional run.
Martyn Venner BSc (Hons) MRICS
Partner
01823 277121
Email Martyn
Robert joined GTH in 1992 from Bruton Knowles' Gloucester office. Robert is the managing partner of Sedgemoor Auction Centre and actively sells at the market's two weekly sales of livestock. Robert studied at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, where he obtained his honours degree in Estate Management. Robert became a partner of GTH in 2005.
Robert Venner BSc (Hons) MRICS FAAV FLAA
Partner
01278 410278
Email Robert
Richard, a farmer’s son from North Devon, joined GTH in 1996 having graduated from Seale Hayne Agricultural College with an honours degree in agriculture followed by a Masters in Estate Management from the Royal Agricultural College. He qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1998 and became a Partner with the firm in 2003. He is the Managing Partner of the South Molton Office and deals primarily with the professional valuation and sale of farms, equestrian property, smallholdings and land.<br><br>In his spare time Richard enjoys working on the home farm with his family, fly fishing, running and reading.
Richard Webber MRICS
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
01769 574500
Email Richard
Robert runs the Commercial and Land & Development Department for South Somerset and Dorset. Joining GTH in 2009 having previously been a partner at Cluttons, Robert has 30 years’ experience, acting on behalf of and advising developers, public sector bodies, corporate and private clients in London and the West Country. Specialising in the acquisition and disposal of commercial property and providing landlord & tenant and development advice, with particular emphasis on commercial and residential property. Robert currently manages 30 long leasehold blocks and a number of other commercial and mixed use properties.
Robert Clark MRICS
Commercial Property Partner
01935 423474
Email Robert
With a wealth of estate agency experience spanning nearly 30 years Stephen loves the “hands on” nature of the job, which first entranced him aged 21. A career estate agent Stephen enjoys dealing with people. He began his career in the Midlands and has worked extensively throughout the South West.<br><br>Leading the team at the Honiton office Stephen brings a wealth of property knowledge and prides himself on delivering an outstanding service to all his clients. He became a Residential Partner in January 2019.<br><br>Outside of work Stephen walks miles with his rescue dog, a lurcher, named Georgie and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.<br><br>He is also a keen cyclist and can be found in lycra whenever his busy schedule allows.
Stephen Gardner ​ANAEA​
Residential Partner
01404 46222
Email Stephen
Duncan Brown FRICS IRRV
Chairman, Partner - Commercial Surveyor & Valuer
Duncan joined GTH in April 2003 having previously been a Director of a well-known Westminster based firm in Central London and has 32 years' experience dealing with commercial property. He specialises in the acquisition and disposal of all types of commercial property including shops, offices, industrial premises, development sites and investments.
He also has considerable experience in landlord & tenant negotiations, including rent reviews and lease renewals, and has acted as an Expert Witness in numerous arbitration, independent expert, mediation, tribunal and court referrals.
Duncan is a committee member of Taunton's Lord's Taverners charity and supports other charities, including Arts Taunton.
He also has considerable experience in landlord & tenant negotiations, including rent reviews and lease renewals, and has acted as an Expert Witness in numerous arbitration, independent expert, mediation, tribunal and court referrals.
Duncan is a committee member of Taunton's Lord's Taverners charity and supports other charities, including Arts Taunton.
Claire Alers-Hankey BSc, MSc, MRTPI
Partner
Claire is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, and provides a range of planning consultancy services across the South West. She joined GTH in August 2017, having worked in private planning consultancy since early 2014 at both Savills and Smiths Gore. Prior to this, Claire worked for ten years as a planning officer, based in the South West. Her involvement in planning includes the early inception stage with planning appraisals through to project management on major development proposals. Claire became an Associate in 2019.
Jeremy Bell FAAV, FARLA, FLAA
Partner
Jeremy is an experienced multi-faceted Agricultural Valuer and Auctioneer, both heading up and conducting regular collective land and property auctions in the North Somerset area as well as being on the rostrum at Sedgemoor Auction Centre selling primestock cattle.
Jeremy's other fields of expertise include agri-business advice, estate management and agricultural landlord and tenant, rural planning consultancy and rating appeals. Jeremy is based at our most northern office at Redhill, Bristol.
Jeremy's other fields of expertise include agri-business advice, estate management and agricultural landlord and tenant, rural planning consultancy and rating appeals. Jeremy is based at our most northern office at Redhill, Bristol.
Graeme Biffen MRICS FAAV
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
Graeme is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and a fellow of the agricultural valuers' association (FAAV), working out of our Tiverton and Exeter offices. Graeme joined the partnership in 2018 and undertakes a wide variety of agency and professional work throughout Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, with a particular emphasis on the sale of rural property and farms, formal RICS valuation work, renewable energy and compensation matters. He chairs our professional services committee and also oversees the marketing department. In his spare time Graeme enjoys various board sports and water sports, as well as exploring the South West with his family.
Derek Biss FRICS FAAV
Partner and Auctioneer
Derek joined WRJ Greenslade & Co in 1983 from Berry Bros in Northampton. A dairy farmer’s son from Castle Cary in Somerset, he trained at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and was articled at RB Taylor & Son in Yeovil in 1978. Derek became an equity partner in 1986 at the age of 27. He heads up the farm sales department as a specialist live and deadstock auctioneer and spends up to two days a week at Sedgemoor Auction Centre. In 2009 he took over the management of the antiques department based at The Octagon Saleroom, Taunton, where he, along with his team, including his wife Samantha, conduct monthly Antique and Specialist Sales, as well as General Sales staged at Sedgemoor Auction Centre. He is on the Arbitrator’s panel for specialist livestock valuations of all types. He is actively involved in carrying out TB valuations in Wales and in his spare time he manages his livestock farm in the Vale of Taunton.
Mark Chugg BSc Hons MSc MRICS
Partner, Head of Development Land & Planning
Mark was born and raised in North Devon and is a farmer's son. He joined Greenslade Taylor Hunt in 2016 as an Associate from a FTSE 250 property consultancy business, where he had worked for nearly 9-years. Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with nearly 20-years PQE.
He has worked in the South West for the majority of his career and specialises in all aspects of development work, including development agency, consultancy, valuation and strategic land.
Mark also has a keen interest in farming and renewable energy having had a personal interest in the 66MWp Fullabrook wind farm and the 4.5MWp Luscott Barton solar farm. Mark became a Partner in January 2019.
He has worked in the South West for the majority of his career and specialises in all aspects of development work, including development agency, consultancy, valuation and strategic land.
Mark also has a keen interest in farming and renewable energy having had a personal interest in the 66MWp Fullabrook wind farm and the 4.5MWp Luscott Barton solar farm. Mark became a Partner in January 2019.
Graham Ford
Partner
Graham heads the Development, Land & Planning department specialising in the disposal of residential development, land and property throughout the South West region providing planning and valuation advice to a wide range of clients including private landowners, banks and local authorities. Graham became a partner of GTH in 2000 following a 10 year period working in Exeter and Somerset County Council. Graham also heads the New Homes' division, a specialist department, recognising the marketing needs of small and large developers.
William Handel MRICS, FAAV
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
Will grew up close to the Devon/Somerset border and having gone to school at Queen's College in Taunton progressed to study Rural Land Management at The Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester. This was followed by three years working for a national firm of land agents in Kent where he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Agricultural Valuer. Having joined GTH in 2004, he now manages the Honiton office and was made a Partner of the firm in 2015.
With over 20 years’ experience in the property industry, Will now focuses on all rural property matters and deals primarily with the professional valuation and sale of farms, equestrian property, smallholdings, country houses and land. In addition he does a variety of professional work and is also familiar to many farmers throughout the South West as an auctioneer at Sedgemoor Auction Centre where he sells the stores.
With over 20 years’ experience in the property industry, Will now focuses on all rural property matters and deals primarily with the professional valuation and sale of farms, equestrian property, smallholdings, country houses and land. In addition he does a variety of professional work and is also familiar to many farmers throughout the South West as an auctioneer at Sedgemoor Auction Centre where he sells the stores.
Simon Havens MNAEA MARLA
Partner
Simon is the Head of Residential Sales for GTH having joined the firm in 2000 and becoming a Partner in 2005. After seven very successful years in Sherborne and a brief spell in Bridgwater, Simon opened a new branch in the Cathedral city of Wells in 2012. Simon hails from Taunton and has been an Estate Agent in the West Country since 1988.
Justin Lowe MRICS
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
Justin originally joined RB Taylor & Sons in 1995 and ran the firm's Milk Quota Department. In 2001 he took over the Farms and Rural Property Department based at Yeovil and now deals with the valuation, sale and purchase of farms, equestrian, country property, development property and land on behalf of farmers and individuals throughout Somerset and Dorset. Justin qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1990, became a Partner in 2005 and regularly conducts the property auctions in the Dorset and South Somerset areas on behalf of the firm.
Tom Mellor MRICS FAAV
Partner
Tom joined Greenslade Taylor Hunt in 2005, working within the milk quota department in Taunton. He was sponsored by GTH to undertake correspondence courses in both a Diploma in Surveying Practice and then an Honours Degree in Estate Management. Subsequently he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2013 and a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2016. Tom relocated offices to Sedgemoor Auction Centre when it opened its doors in 2008, with his varied work load now including Red Book valuations, compensation claims, tenancy matters, subsidy claims, machinery auctions and any other rural professional matters. Tom also has a regular auctioneering slot at Sedgemoor, where he can be found selling sheep each Saturday. Tom became a Partner in 2020.
Sally Mitchell MRICS
Partner
Sally joined R B Taylor and Son's during 1995 having graduated from Reading University with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Rural Resource Management. Following the merger with Greenslade Hunt in 1997 Sally undertook a correspondence course with the College of Estate Management to allow her to obtain her Chartered Surveyor qualifications. The daughter of a Dorset dairy farmer Sally was well placed to start selling dairy cattle in 2001 when she was also made an associate, her involvement with the farm sales department has continued over the past 20 years as she has developed her professional involvement with various Estates and Landlords whilst managing the Dorchester Office and has been an Agricultural Partner with the firm since 2016. Sally became a Partner of the firm in 2020.
Tony Overhill FRICS FAAV
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
Tony Overhill joined WRJ Greenslade & Co in 1989 as a Senior Assistant and became an Equity Partner in 1992 on the merger of WRJ Greenslade & Co and FL Hunt & Son. Initially heading the firm's Farm and Land Sales division in Taunton, he moved to Tiverton in 1996 to open the first Devon office. His speciality remains Rural Agency, although he also undertakes a wide range of Valuation and associated Professional work including the preparation of Expert witness reports, planning appraisals and compensation claims. The son of a Kentish farmer, Tony takes a keen interest in all rural affairs, as well as enjoying part time farming, property renovation and sailing.
Martyn Venner BSc (Hons) MRICS
Partner
Martyn is a second generation chartered surveyor who joined GTH in 2004 straight from agricultural college. He quickly progressed into agricultural professional and valuation work and had a regular slot selling livestock at Taunton market. Martyn moved into farm and rural agency, qualifying as a chartered surveyor in 2007. From here Martyn specialised in selling country properties based in the Taunton office. In 2011 Martyn was made an Associate and in 2012 he was asked to run the residential office in Bridgwater whilst still selling in the market on a Saturday. Martyn was made a partner at Greenslade Taylor Hunt in 2017 and in 2018 was promoted to run the residential office in Taunton.
In his spare time he enjoys fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting and walking his black Labrador, Bear. Spending time with his family and working in the garden are other priorities along with the occasional run.
In his spare time he enjoys fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting and walking his black Labrador, Bear. Spending time with his family and working in the garden are other priorities along with the occasional run.
Robert Venner BSc (Hons) MRICS FAAV FLAA
Partner
Robert joined GTH in 1992 from Bruton Knowles' Gloucester office. Robert is the managing partner of Sedgemoor Auction Centre and actively sells at the market's two weekly sales of livestock. Robert studied at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, where he obtained his honours degree in Estate Management. Robert became a partner of GTH in 2005.
Richard Webber MRICS
Partner - Surveyor & Valuer
Richard, a farmer’s son from North Devon, joined GTH in 1996 having graduated from Seale Hayne Agricultural College with an honours degree in agriculture followed by a Masters in Estate Management from the Royal Agricultural College. He qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1998 and became a Partner with the firm in 2003. He is the Managing Partner of the South Molton Office and deals primarily with the professional valuation and sale of farms, equestrian property, smallholdings and land.
In his spare time Richard enjoys working on the home farm with his family, fly fishing, running and reading.
In his spare time Richard enjoys working on the home farm with his family, fly fishing, running and reading.
Robert Clark MRICS
Commercial Property Partner
Robert runs the Commercial and Land & Development Department for South Somerset and Dorset. Joining GTH in 2009 having previously been a partner at Cluttons, Robert has 30 years’ experience, acting on behalf of and advising developers, public sector bodies, corporate and private clients in London and the West Country. Specialising in the acquisition and disposal of commercial property and providing landlord & tenant and development advice, with particular emphasis on commercial and residential property. Robert currently manages 30 long leasehold blocks and a number of other commercial and mixed use properties.
Stephen Gardner ​ANAEA​
Residential Partner
With a wealth of estate agency experience spanning nearly 30 years Stephen loves the “hands on” nature of the job, which first entranced him aged 21. A career estate agent Stephen enjoys dealing with people. He began his career in the Midlands and has worked extensively throughout the South West.
Leading the team at the Honiton office Stephen brings a wealth of property knowledge and prides himself on delivering an outstanding service to all his clients. He became a Residential Partner in January 2019.
Outside of work Stephen walks miles with his rescue dog, a lurcher, named Georgie and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.
He is also a keen cyclist and can be found in lycra whenever his busy schedule allows.
Leading the team at the Honiton office Stephen brings a wealth of property knowledge and prides himself on delivering an outstanding service to all his clients. He became a Residential Partner in January 2019.
Outside of work Stephen walks miles with his rescue dog, a lurcher, named Georgie and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.
He is also a keen cyclist and can be found in lycra whenever his busy schedule allows.