The head of policy at RICS, Michael Chambers, is due to leave the body today to set up his own policy consultancy after the shake-up of the organisation's policy unit.

Chambers, a veteran of 25 years with the RICS unit and for many years its head, is forming a firm that focuses on property and the built environment.

The decision follows a restructuring of the public affairs division, which has led to the scrapping of four senior posts in the policy unit. The posts that have been scrapped are head of European policy, head of land, built environment and construction policy, head of property policy and director of policy strategy.

Jill Craig, previously head of European policy, will become head of the public affairs unit after Chambers leaves. The post of head of policy research and development has not been filled yet.

Brian Berry, who was head of land, built environment and construction policy, has become head of UK public policy. William Tew, head of property policy, will leave the RICS on 30 April after eight years with the body.

A RICS spokesperson said: "Tew will progress a number of projects including sustainability, asset management, homebuying reform and our work in relation to the UK budget in March."

The restructure follows a review of the public affairs division commissioned by its director, Léonie Austin, last December. It was carried out by public affairs firm Bell Pottinger.