Bidwells, the largest independent property consultant outside London, has merged with Hertfordshire-based firm Faulkners Chartered Surveyors.

Bidwells said the merger was part of its plans to grow the business over the next few years.

The Faulkner office in Kings Langley will trade under the name ‘Bidwells Faulkner’. Faulkner’s 23 staff will join Bidwell’s current headcount of 500.

Bidwells senior partner James Buxton said: ‘Faulkners is a well established and respected name with a loyal client base and this merger will enable us to deliver new services to those clients and to extend our client base.’

Peter Faulkner of Faulkners Chartered Surveyors said: ‘Now our clients will be able to benefit from the more specialist services available from the multi disciplined business sectors within the Bidwells Group.’