Manchester-based retail and leisure consultant Cheetham & Mortimer has been appointed by two councils to advise them on retail development opportunities.

Sefton Council has appointed the consultant to advise on retail development opportunities in Southport (pictured), and Derbyshire Dales District Council has appointed it to advise on developments in Matlock town centre.

Cheetham & Mortimer it to work with specialist planners to advise on retail possibilities for the towns. Its current clients include developers St Modwen, Henry Boot and Peel Holdings. It is also retained by Boots and Marks & Spencer in the north of England.

Warwick Smither, partner at Cheetham & Mortimer, said it was seeing an increase in the amount of work coming from local authorities.

“As inward investment filters back into town regeneration, we are seeing a shift in emphasis from developers back to local authorities in bringing forward development opportunities,” said Smither.

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