The firm will pay £5m for North Associates (Cumbria) together with its sibsidiary Taylor & Hardy, making it one of the largest property asset management and planning consultancy businesses in the UK.

The deal also strategically positions WYG to benefit from the expected £90bn of investment planned for Britain’s ‘Energy Coast’ in West Cumbria, where WYG aims to use planning skills developed as part of its work elsewhere in the nuclear sector.

North Associates turned over around £3m last year making a pre-tax profit of nearly £500,000.

Paul Hamer, WYG chief executive officer, said: “”We are delighted to be joined by the managing director, Andy Ross and the teams from North Associates and Taylor & Hardy, who have built a strong reputation in the region.

“We have collaborated successfully with them in the past on several projects and are confident that their experience in residential, energy and infrastructure markets will significantly strengthen our property asset management team.

“The acquisition will expand our offering across Cumbria and the North, in particular along Britain’s Energy Coast.

“Following on from the acquisitions of Alliance Planning and FMW Consulting, in September 2014 and June 2015 respectively, today’s news further demonstrates WYG’s ability to deliver sustained growth both organically and by acquisition, in line with our strategic growth aspirations.”