James Johnson, MRICS
Partner
James joined Barker in 2004 and is a Chartered Surveyor and Partner heading up the Building(...)
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Building Surveying Services
Our surveying and asset management team helps clients get the best from their property portfolios through informed decision-making and strategic asset planning.
Drawing on extensive technical expertise, we provide clear, practical advice across the entire property lifecycle, from acquisition and occupation through to ongoing management and disposal.
By understanding how buildings perform today and how they can support future objectives, we help clients maximise value, manage risk, and make confident property decisions.
Our surveyors provide detailed inspections and assessments that give clients a clear understanding of their buildings and assets. Combining technical expertise with the GoReport digital platform, we deliver accurate, data-driven reports that enhance decision-making and support effective estate planning.
We turn complex building information into clear insight to help clients manage risk, prioritise investment, and make the most of their property portfolio.
Our asset management planning service helps organisations take a strategic approach to managing their property portfolios. By understanding the condition, performance, and future requirements of your assets, we create tailored plans that support informed decision-making and long-term value.
The result is a clear roadmap for investment, improved estate performance, and greater confidence in the decisions that shape the future of your portfolio.
Statutory compliance sits at the heart of effective estate management. Our specialist team provides an independent view of how well compliance obligations are being managed across your portfolio, helping organisations build confidence in their processes and responsibilities.
Where gaps, weaknesses, or emerging risks are identified, we work alongside clients to strengthen existing arrangements and create a clear path forward. The result is a more resilient estate, reduced exposure to compliance risk, and the assurance that buildings remain safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.
Our energy audits provide a detailed understanding of how energy is consumed across your estate in order to identify opportunities to improve performance and reduce costs.
Taking a whole-building approach, we assess energy efficiency, generation potential, and wider building considerations to deliver practical recommendations that support sustainability objectives and future investment planning.
When working with existing buildings and sites, assumptions can be costly. Our measured surveys provide a clear picture of the built environment, giving clients the confidence to make informed decisions from the outset.
Using advanced surveying technology and experienced professionals, we create a dependable record of the spaces and assets that shape a project. The result is greater certainty, fewer unforeseen issues, and a stronger foundation for planning, design, and delivery.
Successful property acquisitions rely on having the right information from the outset. Our due diligence and pre-acquisition surveys provide a clear picture of an asset’s condition, helping clients understand risks, assess future liabilities, and make informed investment decisions.
Through detailed investigation and practical reporting, we deliver the clarity needed to evaluate opportunities with confidence and protect long-term value.
Partner
James joined Barker in 2004 and is a Chartered Surveyor and Partner heading up the Building(...)
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Partner
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of th(...)
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Partner
Michael joined Barker in 1998 and achieved partner status in 2010. He manages a team of sur(...)
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Partner
Will joined Barker in 2003 and is a Partner heading up the Project Management, Cost Consult(...)
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Associate Partner
Formerly the Director of Estates for a leading Academy Trust, Matt brings over a decade of (...)
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Associate Partner
Paul is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 20 years of experience working as a consult(...)
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Associate Partner
Based in our Braintree Head Office, Charlie delivers building surveying, design, specificat(...)
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Associate Partner
Cem joined Barker in 2002. He specialises in the design, project management, and contract a(...)
See profilePartner
James joined Barker in 2004 and is a Chartered Surveyor and Partner heading up the Building Surveying projects team at our Head Office.
James specialises in the design, specification, and contract administration of refurbishment and new-build schemes for the public sector, education, commercial, and private clients.
An education specialist, he provides strategic advice/management, securing funding and the delivery of projects to the educational sector.
Email: jjohnson@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648099
Partner
Robert joined Barker in 2002 and is a Partner based in our Braintree office. A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, he has over 20 years’ of experience in all core building surveying services and provides strategic estates advice to key accounts in the education, commercial, ecclesiastical, and public sectors.
An education specialist, he provides the following services: estates and energy strategy, asset management planning, project management, and capital funding applications.
Robert works closely with clients to plan and implement energy efficiency and sustainability strategies to save money, reduce carbon emissions and meet ESG objectives.
As a RICS Certified Historic Buildings Professional, he provides conservation consultancy for clients with listed and historic buildings.
Robert is an experienced APC Assessor and Chairman and is also an external examiner for Anglia Ruskin University
As a Partner, Robert leads the Business Development and Marketing function at Barker, builds relationships with key sector bodies and helps steer the strategic growth of the company.
Email: rgould@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648057
Partner
Michael joined Barker in 1998 and achieved partner status in 2010. He manages a team of surveyors heading up a key part of our educational sector as well as wider management duties across the practice.
An experienced chartered surveyor, Michael has a hands-on role in the design, project management and contract administration of refurbishment and new-build schemes for public sector, education, commercial and private clients.
With the majority of his professional life spent working in the education sector, Michael is an education specialist delivering projects from inception to completion including feasibility/development planning, identifying funding streams, bid writing, project management of new build and refurbishment schemes, and condition surveys/works.
Email: mmerrill@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648068
Partner
Will joined Barker in 2003 and is a Partner heading up the Project Management, Cost Consultancy and commercial team. Will became a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2000 and has over twenty years of relevant experience across all sectors of the construction industry. He is responsible for overseeing project management on all major schemes.
Previous project management experience includes major medical facilities, university buildings in Cambridge, aircraft facilities, and extensive experience in educational buildings.
Will works with a cross-section of clients from private individuals through to development companies and commercial organisations to provide project management services on new developments and opportunities.
Will is a principal designer under the CDM regulations and provides guidance and support for colleagues regarding health and safety on projects.
Email: wbidewell@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01223 297244
Associate Partner
Formerly the Director of Estates for a leading Academy Trust, Matt brings over a decade of ‘client-side’ experience in property management and capital project delivery.
He has over 14 years of experience working at the forefront of Education Estates management. Working with staff and colleagues across the Trust at the “C-Suite” level to the operational Facility Management teams. He has successfully developed and established a variety of strategic and tactical approaches to the management and operation of the portfolio of schools to provide property assurance, capital works programmes and business resilience.
Email: misherwood@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 0121 2892572
Associate Partner
Paul is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over 20 years of experience working as a consultant in the construction industry. He has focused on delivering services in retail, banking, commercial and residential projects. Over the past 3 years, he has worked within the healthcare sector specialising in the NHS and nursing homes.
Prior to working within consultancy, he was client-side with social housing & healthcare providers, which helped him to develop a strong understanding of stakeholder key drivers and the focus on client objectives.
Paul has over the past 5 years been coordinating both the quantity surveying and project management functions for his clients and is keen to expand upon this service offering across the education and healthcare sectors. He has delivered complex projects within both industries that covered both refurbishment and new build elements with project values ranging from £1m to £35m.
Tel: 0121 4509078
Associate Partner
Based in our Braintree Head Office, Charlie delivers building surveying, design, specification, contract administration and project management services to commercial clients and the public sector including schools, constabulary and fire services. More recently, he has been involved with workplace planning to reduce congestion as part of post-Covid requirements.
Charlie’s skills also include Condition Improvement Funding (CIF) bids and strategic School Condition Allocation (SCA) expenditure for education clients.
Email: cholmes@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 01279 648085
Associate Partner
Cem joined Barker in 2002. He specialises in the design, project management, and contract administration of both refurbishment and new-build schemes across the education and private sectors.
With extensive knowledge of education funding streams and a strong track record in bid management, Cem provides strategic support to clients looking to secure funding and deliver high-quality, future-ready facilities.
Email: corhan@barker-associates.co.uk
Tel: 1223 297245
Bring us your priorities, and we’ll manage risk and plan investment so you get the best from your estate long term.
