TWO Teesside companies have merged to create one of the region's largest quantity surveying practices.

NAP Partnership, a Middlesbrough- surveyors and cost management company, has merged with Hyams and Brownlee, of Stockton.

The merger, under the NAP name, will increase the companiy's presence in Tees Valley and the North-East and strengthen its position as one of the region's largest practices.

All ten Hyams and Brownlee staff - including managing partner Richard Neal - have moved to NAP's offices in Stephenson House, High Force Road, Middlesbrough.

Mr Neal becomes a partner of NAP and is expected to play a key role in the continued growth of NAP's building and civil engineering division, which encompasses social housing, an area of expertise shared by both companies. Graham Walker, managing partner of NAP, said: "The merger has enabled NAP to significantly expand our building and civil engineering division, both in terms of bringing in qualified and experienced staff and additional clients, at a time when there is increasing demand for these services in the Tees Valley region."

Mr Neal said: "The merger made complete sense - not least for our long-standing clients, to whom we can now offer greater resources and specialist skills without the need to outsource."

NAP, which also operates in the heavy industrial and petrochemicals sectors, has recorded year-on-year growth for the sixth successive year. Last year's turnover was more than £5m for the first time.