Savills has announced that directors Craig Woollam and Stuart Garnett will take joint responsibility for retirement living at the real estate advisor.

The spans several divisions, including housing and healthcare, development services, planning, building and project consultancy, residential capital markets and residential development sales.

Their appointment follows the departure of former head of retirement living, Henry Lumby.

Woollam will continue to manage the healthcare team, of which he is currently head.

As a director in the planning team, he has 17 years’ experience in the sector with particular expertise within planning applications, appeals and site promotion, working for a range of clients across residential and retirement living.

Woollam commented: “I am very much looking forward to expanding my role across the healthcare division into a growing area where we already operate and have a strong client base.

“With the demographic shift seeing the number of people aged over 65 increasing, combined with a greater level of independence that this age group now requires, the retirement living sector is incredibly relevant and important.”