The Director of property consultancy Harris Lamb’s Environment department has announced her departure from the business in order to specialise in heritage projects and is handing over the reins to her right-hand man.
Dr Holly Smith joined Harris Lamb in February 2018, tasked with building an ecological arm to the business to operate in conjunction with the Planning department. In the six years since, she has built a seven-strong team of ecologists and developed a UK-wide portfolio of clients requiring ecological advice and support.
Holly is joining the HCUK Group, an environmental consultancy with a focus on heritage and archaeology projects specialising in the management of change within the historic environment.
Holly said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision. I am immensely proud of the team of colleagues I have built here, the diverse range of invaluable services we offer and in particular, what we have achieved in terms of supporting clients throughout the residential and commercial sectors about environmental impact and biodiversity net gain.
“My passion for history and heritage projects dates back to my childhood, and I’m currently studying part time for a Masters degree in Historic Buildings at York University, so the opportunity to combine that with my ecological experience and to work alongside and learn from archaeological experts was one I simply couldn’t pass up,” she said.
Craig Greenwell, who joined the team as an Associate in 2022, will take over as head of department.
Simon Hawley, Director of the business’s Planning department, added: “We are extremely sad to see Holly go, but she goes with our best wishes. My planning colleagues and I had worked alongside Holly for five years prior to her joining us to form the Environment team, and we are very grateful for the time and effort she put into growing such a successful department from a standing start.
“Craig has proved himself a key member of the team from the moment he joined us, and we have no doubt he will be an enthusiastic successor who will follow in her footsteps when it comes to continuing to develop and inspire the team.”
Craig Greenwell said: “Holly’s are big shoes to fill but I am delighted to have been trusted to head up such a motivated and talented team of ecologists. The work our team does, and the passion they have, is a matter of real pride to us, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with them and our diverse client portfolio to oversee national projects and support organisations on the work we do and the steps they can take to enhance the natural environment alongside their own developments.”
