Alice Bridges Joins Savills Norwich Rural Agency Team
In a significant move for both the company and the local rural sector, Savills has welcomed Alice Bridges to their Norwich-based rural agency team. This appointment brings fresh perspective and valuable industry knowledge to the well-established property consultancy. Alice arrives with extensive experience from the Raynham Estate near Fakenham, where she spent five years immersed in the complexities of managing a diversified farming enterprise. Her background offers Savills clients a unique blend of practical farming knowledge and hospitality management expertise that reflects the evolving nature of today’s agricultural businesses.
Alice’s farming heritage runs deep, providing her with authentic insights into agricultural operations that can’t be learned from textbooks. “Coming from a farming family, I have a strong appreciation of the day-to-day operations of a working farm, particularly crop production,” she explains. This firsthand understanding of farming life, combined with her professional experience in estate management, positions her perfectly to relate to Savills’ rural clients. During her time at the Raynham Estate, Alice focused primarily on hospitality operations, giving her valuable exposure to the ways traditional farming estates are diversifying their income streams beyond conventional agriculture. This experience proves particularly relevant as more farming operations explore tourism, events, and other complementary businesses to remain viable in a changing economic landscape.
The transition to Savills represents an exciting career progression for Alice, who views the move as an opportunity to expand her professional horizons. “Savills offered the opportunity to broaden my knowledge of the rural sector,” she notes with enthusiasm about her new position. In her role, Alice will work alongside Christopher Miles, a director in the rural agency team, advising clients on farm and estate transactions. This work comes at a pivotal time for the agricultural sector, which faces significant challenges including policy shifts following Brexit, environmental pressures, economic volatility, and changing consumer expectations. Her practical understanding of these issues from her previous position provides valuable context for advising property buyers and sellers in this specialized market.
Alice has embraced her new responsibilities with characteristic energy, noting she’s “had a busy start” and is pleased to “hit the ground running.” The agricultural property market requires specialists who understand both the business aspects and emotional connections involved in rural property transactions. Farms and estates often represent not just commercial enterprises but family legacies spanning generations, making these sales particularly nuanced. Alice’s background gives her the sensitivity and perspective to appreciate these dimensions while still providing the professional guidance clients need to make sound decisions. Her excitement about joining “a very experienced team” suggests she values the opportunity to learn from established colleagues while contributing her unique insights.
William Hargreaves, who heads Savills’ rural agency team for the East of England, expressed confidence in their new team member’s potential contribution. “Her work at the Raynham Estate and knowledge of the rural economy will be invaluable when advising clients at a time of such change,” he stated. This acknowledgment highlights the importance Savills places on practical industry experience alongside traditional property expertise. The rural property sector in East Anglia faces distinctive challenges and opportunities, with some of Britain’s most productive farmland situated in a region experiencing significant development pressure, environmental initiatives, and shifting agricultural policies. Having team members who understand these dynamics from multiple perspectives strengthens Savills’ ability to provide comprehensive advice.
The appointment comes during a transformative period for British agriculture and rural land management. Landowners are navigating new subsidy systems, environmental schemes, planning regulations, and market forces that are reshaping the countryside. Alice’s experience with diversification strategies at Raynham Estate positions her to advise clients considering similar adaptations to their traditional farming operations. As rural properties increasingly serve multiple functions—from food production to carbon sequestration, renewable energy generation, tourism, and residential development—having advisors who understand this complexity becomes essential. Alice’s enthusiasm for learning and developing new skills suggests she’s well-positioned to grow alongside this evolving sector, helping Savills maintain its reputation for expert rural property services in East Anglia during these changing times.
