The takeover marks the end of an era for the town planning company, established in Perth more than three decades ago.
Global sustainability company SLR Consulting has purchased Element Advisory, marking the end of an era for the Perth town planning firm.
Staff at Element were told of the change this week, which is not expected to impact the jobs of the existing 65 staff at the company.
The move, as part of SLR’s acquisition strategy, will bolster the company’s profile in Perth, following its WA office opening in 2010.
SLR said the move would “further strengthen SLR’s existing planning and approvals capabilities, … contribution to the built environment, resources and renewable energy sector”.
Element’s staff will relocate from their current headquarters at 191 St Georges Terrace to SLR's offices at 500 Hay Street in Subiaco in January.
This will become the largest SLR office in the Asia Pacific region, with 170 staff.
From next year, the business will be referred to as Element Advisory – Part of SLR, and by 2026 the Element brand will disappear.
Element Advisory’s chief executive James Curtis, who joined the company in mid-2022, will be technical discipline manager for Element Advisory – Part of SLR.
Mr Curtis welcomed the opportunity to be part of a global brand and to expand Element’s product offering.
“Element Advisory’s 30-year history has been built on knowing how to future proof the most complex and unprecedented visions and deliver outcomes for our clients,” he said.
“By combining the technical, scientific, project management and regulatory approvals capabilities of both SLR and Element Advisory, we will be able to deliver even greater impact.”
The acquisition marks SLR’s third Western Australian acquisition in as many years.
SLR purchased environmental management consultancy 360 Environmental in October 2021, and in mid-2022, it bought Wetland Research and Management.
SLR Asia Pacific managing director Paul Gardiner said Element’s ability to navigate complex regulatory approvals pathways has been key to its long-term success.
“Their addition to our APAC team will be extremely valuable to our clients and partners in the built environment, infrastructure and renewable sectors,” he said.
“This enhanced technical capability will bolster our ability to tackle some of the region’s most complex sustainability challenges and achieve our purpose of making sustainability happen.”
The sale involved a transfer of 100 per cent of the shares in Element Advisory and release of capital from the company’s current owners.
Element Advisory directors and shareholders Andrew Howe and Tony Paduano will remain affiliated with SLR as technical directors, but have no ongoing management or ownership roles.
David Caddy founded Element in 1989 as The Planning Group (TPG).
Mr Paduano joined in 1993 and Mr Howe joined in 1994.
The company bought Place Match in 2016 and changed its name to TPG + Place Match. In 2018, the firm became Element.
Mr Caddy left the company to become Western Australian Planning Commission chair in 2018.
