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About Underwood Wright Chartered Surveyors

Two well- known local surveying firms combined forces on 1 April 2013 to form the independent Chartered Surveyors Underwood Wright. Underwoods Surveyors operated from Barnstaple whilst Passmore Wright and Company was based in Bideford and Bude.  Now operating from Barnstaple the firms’ merger served to strengthen their presence across North Devon, Mid-Devon and North Cornwall.

Underwoods Surveyors was formed in 1996 and the partners, who had both practiced locally as surveyors since the mid 1980’s, built up their business into a multi-disciplinary general practice firm.  Passmore Wright and Company have origins that go back to the 1970’s when it was better known for its building surveying services, including architectural drawing work on new development and refurbishment schemes and in more recent years  has become recognised for being a general practice firm.

Underwood Wright Ltd has three Chartered Surveyors and two associate surveyors. Stuart Smith FRICS, Stephen Shortridge FRICS, Paul Furse MRICS, Jake Ellis AssocRICS and Adam Bott AssocRICS. During their careers the Directors (Stuart Smith & Stephen Shortridge) have had a broad experience in most aspects of the profession.  Their disciplines overlap but the strength of the business is that all the surveyors are able to combine their knowledge and experience. Regular clients range from individuals to Local Authorities, Public Companies, Charitable Trusts, Property Companies and Local Businesses.  

The core business includes survey and valuation work whilst other specialist areas include Landlord and Tenant work, Party Wall Act matters  and Dispute Resolution.

Meet the Team

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Stephen Shortridge BSc FRICS
Stephen Shortridge BSc FRICS
Director 

Stephen graduated from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1976 with a BSc in Urban Land Administration. His early surveying career and professional training took place in London where he worked for several well known corporates in commercial and estate management roles.

In 1984 Stephen returned to “his roots” in North Devon where he has worked locally since. Within Underwood Wright he concentrates mainly on Party Wall and Expert Witness matters and general building advice.

Stephen is a keen badminton player and runs a local badminton club. His other interests include gig rowing (Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club) and watching his home football team, Bideford (Bideford AFC) for whom he provides behind the scenes support. Stephen is married with 3 children.

Stuart Smith FRICS
Stuart Smith FRICS
Director 

Stuart  was educated at West Buckland School and Leicester Polytechnic, graduating in 1982 with a diploma in Estate Management. He qualified in 1985 as a Chartered Surveyor.

Stuart’s property career is West Country based and he has 34 years wide ranging property experience. He currently specialises in commercial valuation and survey work and landlord and tenant related matters.

Stuart has a passion for the great outdoors and a particular interest in renewable energy.  A former Chairman of  Ilfracombe Round Table , Stuart is presently a Trustee of the West Buckland School Foundation and in 2019 was elected President of the Old West Buckland Association.

 

Paul Furse BSc MRICS
Paul Furse BSc MRICS
Chartered Surveyor  

Paul is a Chartered Surveyor, having gained a Batchelor of Science Degree in Land Administration before being elected a Professional Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1986.

Paul covers a wide range of professional work from the firm’s Bude office and is a RICS registered valuer.

Although specialising in residential surveys and valuations he also carries out general practice work including commercial rent reviews and lease renewals, professional consultant certification and provides boundary dispute advice. He has experience of preparing Expert Witness Reports.

Paul lives at Sutcombe and is married with two daughters. He is a trustee for the Sutcombe Almshouse Trust and is actively involved in the local community. He is a keen golfer (albeit high handicap) and previously played and refereed local league football.

Jake Ellis
Jake Ellis
Assoc RICS Surveyor