THE management of The Crown Estate’s coastal property portfolio in the south is to be transferred to estate agents Knight Frank.

The Crown Estate is responsible for investing in and managing some of the UK’s most important assets on behalf of the country.

It has announced that its south of England coastal portfolio has been awarded to estate agents Knight Frank.

Humberts have managed the portfolio for over 20 years from its Southampton office. Its team, headed up by Stephen Butterfield and Simon Gardiner, are now transferring to Knight Frank and are planning to relocate to new offices alongside one of The Crown Estate’s major coastal assets: the River Hamble.

Neil Jacobson, portfolio manager for The Crown Estate’s rural and coastal south of England assets, said: “We are pleased to be extending our already strong relationship with Knight Frank and continuing to maintain and enhance the quality of the service we provide to our tenants, the public and our partners.”

Knight Frank is strengthening its relationship with the organisation as it currently looks after The Crown Estate’s coastal interests in the south west and a number of its rural estates in Wales, the Midlands and the north west.

Knight Frank partner Christopher Smith said: “We have a long-standing relationship with The Crown Estate and we are delighted to extend these services through this highly experienced and very effective team joining us.

“We currently have a successful coastal management team run by Michael Bapty from our Bristol office and we are excited to build on this and provide the quality and scope of services unique to The Crown Estate”.

Humberts’ MD Ian Westerling said: “Our team, that have been handling this specific Crown Estate contract, led by Stephen Butter-field, have been with us for many years and we would like to thank them for their efforts and professionalism.

“We look forward to working with the Crown Estate in the future.”