BTG Eddisons Liverpool hires Ian Steele for office agency 2026

Key Points

• Ian Steele has been appointed as director in the Liverpool office of BTG Eddisons following more than 20 years with Avison Young.
• Steele will concentrate on office agency and development and will be working alongside directors of property agency Robert Diggle and David Baker.
• It has been said that Steele is a known name in the Liverpool property sector as he started his career in Avison Young (formerly GVA Grimley) in 2004 and has left in 2026.
• Luke Tillison, head of transactions at BTG Eddisons, said that Steele is an individual with a strong profile and contacts who will help in growing agency business and the development and refurbishment pipeline.
• Steele will also operate throughout the wider North West region as the agency business develops.
• This news was reported on 2 September 2026 by Place North West and Green Street News.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 02, 2026 – BTG Eddisons has strengthened its Liverpool office with the appointment of Ian Steele as a director, marking a significant hire in the city’s commercial property sector as the firm expands its office agency and development capabilities across the North West.

As reported by Dan Whelan of Place North West, Steele has joined the consultancy after more than two decades at Avison Young, where he was a long-standing figure having started when the business traded as GVA Grimley in 2004 and departing earlier in 2026. Green Street News confirmed that Steele will focus on office agency and development as part of the move.

Who is Ian Steele and what will he do at BTG Eddisons?

Ian Steele is a well-known figure in the Liverpool property market, according to Place North West, and will work alongside BTG Eddisons’ property agency directors Robert Diggle and David Baker in its Liverpool office. His remit centres on office agency and development, aligning with BTG Eddisons’ broader push to grow transactional activity and development pipelines in the city and region.

Steele’s career at Avison Young spanned more than 20 years, beginning when the firm operated under the GVA Grimley brand before its rebranding and integration into the global Avison Young platform. He left the business earlier in 2026, and his move to BTG Eddisons was announced on 2 September 2026.

What has BTG Eddisons said about the hire?

Luke Tillison, head of transactional at BTG Eddisons, provided detailed comments on the appointment, as quoted by Place North West. He said:

“Steele is very well established and highly connected in the Liverpool market and brings a strong profile and network with him.”

Tillison added:

“Ian will play an important role in growing our property agency work in Liverpool and, importantly, in building a stronger development and refurbishment pipeline.” He further stated: “BTG Eddisons already has a strong agency team in the city, and Ian’s appointment gives us the scope to build on that, with someone who knows the market exceptionally well.”

Tillison also outlined a regional dimension to Steele’s role, noting:

“He will also work across Manchester and the wider North West as the agency division grows.”

How does this fit BTG Eddisons’ wider strategy in the North West?

BTG Eddisons operates as a leading firm of chartered surveyors with a national footprint, and the Liverpool office forms part of its broader North West presence alongside Manchester and other locations. The appointment of a senior director with deep local connections supports the firm’s stated aim of expanding property agency work and development monitoring services in key regional markets.

The firm recently secured places on the Homes England Property, Financial and Development Services Framework 2026–2030, including Lot 1 (Property Professional and Technical Services) and Lot 3 (Development Monitoring Services), which underscores its focus on development-related work across the public and private sectors. Steele’s development focus in Liverpool dovetails with this strategic direction, particularly as the firm looks to build a stronger refurbishment and development pipeline in the city.

What is the context for Liverpool’s office market in 2026?

Liverpool’s office market has seen continued activity in 2026, with notable transactions and marketing efforts for vacant stock reported over recent weeks. Place North West reported in late August that Liverpool was again seeking to dispose of 85,000 sq ft of vacant offices, highlighting ongoing efforts to reposition or sell larger office assets in the city.

Against that backdrop, the addition of a senior office agency specialist with two decades of local experience is positioned to help BTG Eddisons capture a greater share of office leasing, sales, and development advisory work. Steele’s established network and profile in Liverpool are cited by BTG Eddisons leadership as key factors in the hire, suggesting the firm is targeting growth in a competitive regional market.

What are the reporting sources and attributions for this story?

The core details of Ian Steele’s appointment were first reported by Dan Whelan of Place North West on 2 September 2026, including direct quotes from Luke Tillison of BTG Eddisons. Green Street News also carried the story on the same date, confirming Steele’s focus on office agency and development. Additional context on BTG Eddisons’ national capabilities and recent framework appointments comes from the firm’s own announcements and related industry reporting.

Background to BTG Eddisons’ Liverpool development and office agency push

BTG Eddisons’ Liverpool office has long been a hub for commercial property services in the North West, with a team covering agency, valuation, and advisory work. The firm’s recent public statements emphasise growth in transactional services and development monitoring, supported by national frameworks such as the Homes England arrangement secured in 2026.

Ian Steele’s arrival follows his departure from Avison Young earlier in 2026 after more than 20 years with the business, during which he built a strong profile in Liverpool’s office market. His move to BTG Eddisons places him alongside existing property agency directors Robert Diggle and David Baker, creating a senior team focused on office agency and development in the city and wider region.

Prediction: how could this affect Liverpool’s office landlords, tenants and investors?

For Liverpool’s office landlords, tenants and investors, Steele’s appointment is likely to sharpen competition among agencies for prime office mandates and development advisory work, potentially improving service levels and market intelligence available to clients. Landlords seeking to lease or sell office space may benefit from an agency team with deep local connections and a stated focus on building a stronger development and refurbishment pipeline.

Tenants and occupiers could see more proactive outreach and tailored options as BTG Eddisons looks to grow its property agency work in the city, particularly if the firm leverages Steele’s network to access off-market opportunities or early-stage development projects. Investors monitoring Liverpool’s office market may interpret the hire as a signal of continued institutional and regional interest in the city’s commercial property sector, especially where refurbishment and repositioning strategies are in play.

Over the next 12 to 24 months, the impact will depend on how effectively BTG Eddisons converts Steele’s local relationships into new instructions and how the wider North West office market evolves amid ongoing disposal efforts and development activity. If the firm successfully expands its pipeline, the move could contribute to a more competitive and dynamic office agency landscape in Liverpool, with implications for fees, marketing strategies, and the pace of transactions.