Darling Associates has unveiled plans to significantly increase its staff numbers and regional profile with the acquisition of existing firms – the first of which will see it opening a Manchester base.

The practice, which has close on 90 staff in offices in London and Poland, has bought Wilmslow-based Architect-CT, which has headcount of around 30, and plans to move the business 10 miles north to Manchester.

Managing director Chris Darling said the practice was also considering establishing offices in Edinburgh and the south west with a view to potentially increasing staff numbers to 200 within the next five years.