Quantity surveyor Cyril Sweett has launched a building surveying division based in London and Bristol.

Cyril Sweett has poached Gary Fraughen from rival Currie & Brown, where he set up a similar team, to run the business.

The division is 15-strong, and the company said it was on the verge of making further appointments in Leeds and Glasgow, as well as in Bristol.

Fraughen has outlined plans to build the team up to 65 people by 2007.

Dean Webster, Cyril Sweett's chief executive, said: "Our new building surveying division represents the next step in our strategic development to provide a complete range of consulting services."

Fraughen said that building surveying was a growth area, partly because of the rise in public sector work.