Engineering and environmental consultancy Hilson Moran has become independent following a management buyout.
The deal with Altran UK returns the ownership of the company to the directors of the business, having been acquired by the subsidiary of the Paris-based Altran Technologies S.A in 2002. It has been funded with the assistance of Albion Ventures, a major private equity business.

Managing director of Hilson Moran, Chris Plummer, said: 'Hilson Moran is a 35-year old business with a strong identity and successful track record. Renewed independence gives us the agility and autonomy to respond quickly to a changing market and clients' evolving needs.

'We are focused on continuing to provide long-term support to clients in the UK and internationally, in our core markets of offices, retail, leisure, hotels, residential and data centres. In addition to building design, growth is also being achieved in the areas of masterplanning and infrastructure design. Whatever the commission, it is our aim to deliver the best possible service and develop creative, optimum engineering solutions.'

Hilson Moran said it achieved a growth in turnover of more than 20 per cent last year and employs more than 200 staff.

Among the London projects it has worked on are 20 Fenchurch Street dubbed 'the Walkie Talkie', Hammerson's Principal Place and The Pinnacle, as well as the almost completed Athletes Village for the London 2012 Olympics.

Across the country, it is working for developers such as Land Securities, Great Portland Estates, Canary Wharf and Capital Shopping Centres. Owner occupier clients include IBM, Sky and Barclays. In the Middle East, construction of the prestigious new Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank HQ is now well underway.