Connells Group has finished or is close to finishing 38 branch upgrades as part of its ongoing estate modernisation programme. An additional 50 branches are planned for improvements in 2027.
The estate agency group, which operates around 1,200 branches under 87 brands after acquiring Countrywide five years ago, began the refurbishment project earlier in 2026 under the name Project Blueprint.
Among the first finished are the Alan de Maid office in Locksbottom, Kent, and a Bridgfords location in Leeds. The project involves adding 15,000 new computers and phones, plus digital screens for branch displays.
Connells Group Chief Operating Officer Chris Rosindale mentioned that the company carries out six-month evaluations after each refurbishment to check investment returns. “We’re seeing branch KPIs improve,” Rosindale stated. “That includes market share growth.” He also noted that branch appearance affects client choices. “If a potential vendor looks at any estate agency’s branch in a town and it appears tired, then they are less likely to instruct than compared to a competitor whose branch facia looks smart and the interior clean and inviting,” Rosindale said.
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Chief Executive Helen Charlesworth explained that the upgrades aren’t just about aesthetics. “What we didn’t want to do is just paint the walls, stick a map on the wall and put some fresh carpets in. Instead, we wanted to move with the times,” she said.
The refurbishment initiative occurs amid a tough trading climate. Recent financial reports indicated Connells shifted from profit to loss, mirroring a sluggish sales market across the broader estate agency sector.
Targeting 88 branches for completion or readiness by the close of 2027, this project stands as one of the UK property sector’s bigger physical modernization efforts. The firm has revealed no details on the Project Blueprint budget.