INTERNATIONAL property adviser FPDSavills, which has a Southampton arm, has dropped the FPD element of its name.

The move simplifies and streamlines the Savills identity, giving all its global businesses a brand name consistent with that of the parent company, which has a full listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Savills added the FPD prefix when it merged with Hong Kong-based First Pacific Davies in 1997.

The company had a foothold in Southampton two and a half years ago, with a staff of 15.

That has now grown to 55 under the leadership of director Martin Vaughan, and office expansion is understood to be on the cards.

Martin, based at the Southampton office in Brunswick Place, said: "The re-branding is welcome at a time when the Southampton office is growing across all departments.

"Plans to further expand the Southampton office are already well under way, strengthening our position in the central south."

Savills, which is keen to downplay its role as solely an upmarket estate agent to the green welly brigade, has many fingers in many pies across south Hampshire, touching upon the lives of thousands of workers and residents.

It is involved in new homes, building consultancy and urban planning and design, along with licensed leisure, commercial property and corporate activity.