Savills Celebrates 75 Years in Norwich with Tree Planting Ceremony
In a touching tribute to their long-standing presence in Norwich, Savills recently commemorated their 75th anniversary in the cathedral city by planting a London plane tree opposite their current St Andrews Street office. This symbolic gesture represents not just their historical connection to Norfolk since 1950, but also their commitment to leaving a lasting legacy in the community they’ve served for three-quarters of a century. The celebration brought together current staff and valued alumni, including Martin Freeth, who was just 22 years old when he helped establish the original All Saints Green office. Now, as the head of the Norwich branch, Natalie Howlett-Clarke coordinated this meaningful ceremony with Norwich City Council, highlighting the firm’s deep-rooted connection to the area.
The journey of Savills through Norwich reflects the evolution of both the company and the city itself. Starting from their original location in All Saints Green, the property consultancy has moved several times as their business expanded—first to larger premises on Upper King Street in 1975, then to Hardwick House on Agricultural Hall Plain, and now to their current home at St Lawrence House on St Andrews Street. Each move represented a new chapter in their growth story, with the firm developing from a small local office to become one of the region’s leading multi-disciplinary property businesses. Throughout these transitions, their commitment to Norwich remained unwavering, creating a business that has become woven into the fabric of Norfolk’s professional community.
“Savills has a rich history in Norfolk and we all feel incredibly privileged to live and work in such a wonderful part of the world,” remarked Natalie Howlett-Clarke during the celebration. Her words captured the sentiment shared by the 44 employees who currently make up the Norwich team, covering residential, development, and rural sectors across Norfolk and north Suffolk. This appreciation for the region they serve goes beyond business interests—it represents a genuine connection to the landscape, communities, and unique character of East Anglia. The tree planting was more than a corporate anniversary marker; it embodied their gratitude to a community that has supported their business through decades of economic changes and market fluctuations.
The ceremony itself brought together different generations of Savills employees, creating a bridge between the company’s past and its present. For someone like Martin Freeth, who helped launch the original office in his early twenties, seeing how the small operation he helped establish has flourished over 75 years must have been particularly poignant. These human connections highlight how professional services firms like Savills aren’t just business entities but collections of individuals whose careers and lives become intertwined with the places they serve. The Norwich office has likely witnessed countless life changes among its staff—careers beginning and advancing, professional relationships forming, and deep expertise in the local property market developing over decades of hands-on experience.
Looking toward the future, the planting of a London plane tree—known for its longevity and resilience—seems particularly appropriate. As Howlett-Clarke noted, “We are proud to call Norwich our home and we look forward to many more successful years ahead.” This forward-looking statement reflects Savills’ intention to continue growing and investing in their workforce while maintaining their commitment to Norfolk. The London plane tree itself may well outlive many of those present at its planting, potentially standing for hundreds of years as a living reminder of this milestone. As Norwich continues to evolve in the coming decades, this tree will grow alongside the city, much as Savills hopes to do.
What makes this story particularly noteworthy is how it illustrates the often-overlooked long-term relationships between professional services firms and the communities they serve. While much attention is given to historic buildings or long-standing retail establishments in our cities, the continuous presence of companies like Savills also contributes significantly to a place’s business ecosystem and professional heritage. For 75 years, their offices have been spaces where some of Norfolk’s most significant property transactions have been negotiated, where careers have been built, and where expertise in the local market has been accumulated and passed down. Their commemoration, marked by the simple act of planting a tree, speaks to a type of quiet corporate citizenship that enriches our urban environments in ways that often go uncelebrated but are nonetheless vital to a community’s economic and social fabric.
