Commercial property player JLL Ireland (Jones Lang La Salle) is moving into the residential property market with the acquisition of Guardian Property Asset Management. Guardian was set up in 2009 by Conor O'Gallagher and Colm Byrne – two veterans of the Irish new homes market and has since operated mainly in the residential and new homes space. The acquisition takes immediate effect, and the Guardian team will move into JLL's headquarters on Dublin's Hatch Street later this month and rebrand under the JLL global brand by the end of the year. O'Gallagher says it will be business as usual for the team of nine, which has five schemes under development and transactions of €500million under its belt in the past 12 months.

The acquisition delivers for JLL an immediate representation in the new homes, residential and investment market, in addition to a strong presence in development land services, acquisitions and planning. The latest development will allow it partner with clients right through to the build and sales stage.