Our Story

Looking Ahead

Oakley launches its new branding and website, designed in tandem to better represent the full-service property consultancy that Oakley has grown into.

Land & Development Department Launches

Having built a strong reputation for delivering large land deals, the time had come to formally establish our Land & Development department. Run by Chris Oakley and Steven Harvey, the cementing of this key department reflected an increased demand from our developer clients.

Shoreham Expansion

Following the acquisition of Osborn Humphreys and Harrison Brant’s town centre office in Shoreham, Oakley’s Shoreham team relocated to 6 Brunswick Road, strengthening Oakley’s coastal presence and improving customer service with a much higher profile office.

A New HQ for Oakley

We merged our four Brighton offices into The Property Works, Foundry Street, bringing multiple departments together under one roof including lettings, commercial agency, management, accounts, valuations, and new homes.

Investing in Marketing

Oakley appointed its first dedicated marketing employee, reflecting continued investment in brand, communication, and client engagement.

Resilience Through Change

Like all businesses, Oakley faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The resilience and dedication of our staff was extraordinary. Within days, we transitioned to remote working and continued supporting clients through a period of national uncertainty.” Louise Wilson, Associate Director.

Oakley was among the first back in the office and supported clients throughout the stamp duty holiday, reinforcing the strength and adaptability of the team.

Despite the pandemic, we grew, welcoming Andy Hovey to head up our Brighton & Hove Residential Sales team.

Expanding into West Sussex

Whilst always having strong ties to Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, the time had come to expand our presence in West Sussex.

In 2018, we opened our Shoreham Property Hub, led by now Asscoiate Director, Nick Williams.

Nick’s established reputation in Shoreham, along with strong professional connections across Worthing, helped drive the early success of the office.

The Big O - One Brand for all Oakley Property

Oakley rebranded from Oakley Residential and Oakley Commercial to Oakley Property, uniting all services under one name. We adopted our distinctive ‘O’ logo, which had a major impact on our presence around Sussex.

Lewes Office Opens

Oakley’s connection to Lewes runs deep. Chris Oakley began his property career in the town and built strong professional relationships there over many years. Chris was always passionate about opening an office in the town.

In 2007, Oakley opened its Lewes office, marking an important step in the company’s expansion beyond Brighton. The launch coincided with the run on Northern Rock and the early stages of the global financial crisis, making it a challenging time to establish a new office.

Despite entering a market with several long-established firms, the Lewes office has grown into a key part of the business. Under the leadership of Lewes Director David Beaken and his team, the office has won the British Property Awards Estate Agent of the Year in Lewes for five consecutive years.

More recently, the opening of the beautifully renovated Lewes Property Hub has further strengthened Oakley’s presence in the town and surrounding countryside, supporting residential sales, lettings and new homes across the wider Lewes market.

Property Management Booms for Oakley

Industry Leadership

Chris Oakley was appointed President of the Brighton & Hove Estate Agents’ Association, at the time the youngest person to hold the role. The appointment reflected Oakley’s growing reputation within the local property profession.

Since then Oakley have produced four presidents of the association with David Beaken, Andy Hovey and James Epps all holding the position.

We are also proud that James Cunnighham now serves on the BHEAA Council, and that this year Nick Williams, our Shoreham Property Hub Associate Director, will serve as President of the Worthing Estate Agents’ Association.

Estate Agency expands

By 2004, it turned out we were pretty good at selling houses. As the residential side of the business continued to grow, James Epps joined Oakley, going on to play an important role in the development of the estate agency over the following two decades.

With demand increasing, the decision was made to give the residential sales and lettings operation its own distinct identity. Oakley expanded into new high-profile offices in Brighton’s North Laine, creating dedicated sales and lettings premises.

Now operating from four locations across central Brighton, Oakley’s presence in the local property market continued to strengthen.

Expanding into Residential Estate Agency & Lettings

As Oakley’s profile in Brighton continued to grow, the business began exploring opportunities beyond commercial property. Around this time, Chris Oakley was approached by respected local estate agent Graham Bull, who asked whether Oakley had considered expanding into residential sales.

In fact, the idea had already been under consideration, and the timing proved ideal. Together, they launched Oakley Residential, marking the company’s first move into the residential property market.

At the time, some questioned whether a commercial property brand should also operate in residential sales. Oakley saw it differently. Bringing commercial and residential expertise together created new opportunities, particularly in supporting property developers and clients operating across multiple sectors.

The move laid the foundations for the broader, multi-disciplinary property business Oakley would become

Time to Go For It

By 1998, Oakley had become a recognised name in the Sussex commercial property market. With the business growing, two important decisions shaped the next stage of its development.

First, Chartered Surveyor Tim Crossfield joined the business to lead property management and professional services, allowing Chris to focus on commercial agency and deal-making.

Second, Oakley moved into its first dedicated head office in Marlborough Place, Brighton, a prominent location close to the Royal Pavilion in the heart of the city. The move marked a significant step forward for the business, creating the space and visibility needed to support continued growth and expansion.

Tim has now been with Oakley for over 30 years and today serves as the company’s Managing Director, playing a central role in the continued success of the business.

The Business Model Was Working

The Beginning

Oakley Property began life as a commercial property consultancy, originally founded as Oakley Commercial by Chartered Surveyor Chris Oakley MRICS in 1993. The business started from a small shared office in the Preston Park area of Brighton.

Chris had already built a reputation locally as a commercial property consultant. After leaving sixth form, he went straight into the property industry and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor through day release while working. From the outset, he developed a strong work ethic and a clear passion for property deals.

Born and raised in Brighton, Chris recognised an opportunity to support small businesses looking for their first commercial premises. By helping local companies secure the right space to grow, Oakley Commercial began building long-term relationships that would shape the foundations of the business.

From the very beginning, the focus was clear: knowledgeable advice, personal service, and a commitment to professional standards.

The Lessons Learnt over 30 years plus of Growth