A PROPERTY consultancy firm which started in Skipton as a partnership of architects is celebrating half-a-century in business.

Bowman Riley still has an office in Otley Street, Skipton, and has a team of 70 employees who work on projects across three brands, in architecture, building consultancy and interior design work across the country.

The company also has offices in Leeds, opened in 2002, and London, opened in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics.

To celebrate the 50 years anniversary, Bowman Riley brought together their teams from across the practice for a special party at Alexander’s restaurant and bar, in Skipton High Street.

The winner of the charity casino tables at the event, Samantha Jevons, presented a cheque to the firm’s nominated charity of the year, Skipton Extended Learning for All (SELFA).

Earlier this year there was an event for clients attended by more than 180 property professionals at East 59th in Leeds.

The firm’s director Matthew Jones said: “We would not have reached this major milestone without the continued support from our loyal clients, fellow consultants and contractors across the property industry that we have built friendships with over the years.

“It is our talented team that has made Bowman Riley a unique company at the forefront of the design of the built environment.”

The company has carried out more than 10,000 projects across the commercial, education, healthcare, hotel, leisure, industrial, residential and retail sectors.

Among the prestige projects designed locally by Bowman Riley are the Albion Place retail development and the HML - now Computershare - office building, both in Skipton.

The event also marked the retirement of Bowman Riley director Laurence Teeney, who worked at the company for 26 years.

He designed some of the most recognised buildings in the firm’s portfolio, including Bradford’s Culture Fusion Youth Centre, Sir Michael Wilkinson Arts Centre and Kirkstall Brewery student residences In Leeds.

Director Michael Feather presented him with a gift as part of the proceedings.He will continue to work with Bowman Riley on a part-time basis.

A company spokeswoman said: “Bowman Riley has continued to grow and evolve over the years in response to client and market demands in terms of its locations, breadth of services and adoption of the latest technological advancements.

“The Leeds city centre office was opened 16 years ago to establish a presence in the heart of Yorkshire’s professional services core.

“In 2012 coinciding with the London Olympics, the company opened a central London office to better serve the needs of clients operating in the south.”