Strutt & Parker has created a new senior position focused on prime residential markets in England’s cathedral and university cities, appointing Louise Glanville as its first Head of National Town and City Markets.
Glanville joins as a Director after nearly ten years at Knight Frank, where she served as Partner and Head of the Exeter office. She previously worked at Strutt & Parker earlier in her career within the agency’s New Homes team.
Strategic focus on regional cities
The newly created role sits within the National Country House Department and targets super-prime property markets in cathedral and university cities including Oxford, Cambridge, Winchester and Exeter. This reflects a broader shift in how estate agents are positioning themselves in regional markets.
According to Oliver Custance Baker, Head of the National Country House Department, Glanville will work with local offices to strengthen connections between city and country property markets, identifying opportunities for clients whose requirements span both sectors.
“She will be instrumental in strengthening our presence in those cathedral cities where the lines between town and country living are increasingly blurred; where you can find homes with the scale and character of the countryside, in the heart of the city,” Custance Baker said.
Glanville stated: “I am delighted to be returning to Strutt & Parker at such an exciting time for the business. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the country to build on their existing network and help drive the next phase of growth in these prime city markets.”
Part of wider investment programme
The appointment forms part of a broader investment programme by Strutt & Parker’s parent company, BNP Paribas, which has included senior recruitment, the launch of a London broker team and a recent rebrand. The move comes as agencies adapt their service offerings to meet changing client demands.
The focus on cathedral cities represents a strategic response to evolving buyer preferences in markets where traditional boundaries between urban and rural property have become less distinct, particularly in locations with strong educational and cultural infrastructure.
