Cushman & Wakefield has bought niche big shed agency Burbage Realty Partners as it invests in an expanding pan-European logistics platform.

The move comes as two years of growing inflation helps, rather than hinders, the already fast-growing e-commerce sector.

Burbage, founded in 2017, is one of the highest-profile logistics property consultancies in the UK, thanks to a firm grip on the lucrative Golden Triangle market in the East Midlands. It advises on development land, funding and investment, as well as occupational agency.

The move builds on the firm’s expansion of its sector teams across Europe through a succession of senior hires in key markets including Germany and Spain.

Eight Burbage employees will join Cushman & Wakefield with the acquisition. Among these, Cameron Mitchell, George Underwood and James Harrison will join as international partners, while Franco Capella, Mark Thomas and Tom Kimbell join as partners and Sophia Cooper as an associate. The team will continue to be based at its current office in Northampton while being integrated into Cushman & Wakefield’s national sector team.

However, John Burbage himself will not be moving. Burbage Realty is a separate business founded in 2003 and will stay under the ownership of Burbage Capital Limited.

“The team’s established developer relationships and expertise, especially in large footprint logistics sites and strategic land, complement our existing strengths perfectly to create a powerful proposition for our clients,” Cushman & Wakefield Head of UK Logistics Richard Evans said.