Ridge continues acquisition spree with takeover of transport specialist

Ridge has bought a West Midlands transport consultant as part of plans to strengthen its multidisciplinary offer.

The firm has snapped up Hub Transport Planning for an undisclosed sum and is the latest in a series of acquisitions since its own partial takeover by private equity three years ago.

Horizon Capital pumped more than £40m into Ridge to take a “significant” stake in the business in 2023.

At the time, Ridge senior partner Adrian O’Hickey said this would “enable investment in people and acquisitions”, and what has followed since are the acquisitions of cost consultant Concert, civils consultant Jubb, PM Adept Management and specialist motorsport consultancy Driven International

Current clients of Hub include Richborough, Barratt West Midlands, Persimmons Homes, Severn Trent Water, Bellway Homes and Caddick.

Ridge said the acquisition would strengthen its ability to support new towns and other strategic growth sites.

Set up in 2006, Hub’s 17-strong staff, which is based in Birmingham, bring Ridge’s transport planning team’s headcount to more than 40.

The team works across public and private sectors, from early masterplanning and feasibility through to delivery, with clients such as Highways England and Transport for London.

Andy Cleevely, partner at Ridge, said: “We identified Hub because of its depth in transport strategy, its practical understanding of planning risk and its collaborative way of working. 

“Transport increasingly plays a defining role in whether sites come forward and can be delivered to cost, particularly on large scale and long‑term proposals and strategic growth locations.”

Ridge said it has identified infrastructure and strategic land as key areas for further expansion.

“Joining Ridge is the right move at the right time,” said James Parker, director at Hub Transport Planning. 

“We’re bringing our expertise into an environment where it can have far greater impact, and I’m excited about what that means for our people, our clients and the projects we’ll be part of.”