Press Release
Rapleys expands Neighbourly Matters team with addition of Jonathan Ray
Rapleys expands Neighbourly Matters team with addition of Jonathan Ray
28th May 2026
Rapleys has added another senior expert to its Neighbourly Matters team as it continues its focus on expansion in Building Consultancy and across its other core divisions.
Jonathan Ray has joined the team as Associate Partner, based in London, and brings over 15 years’ expertise in the discipline, advising developers across the UK on Daylight and Sunlight and Rights of Light issues across both residential and commercial property in both the public and private sectors.
This appointment follows the promotion of Partner Natasha Bray as national Head of Neighbourly Matters who has been with Rapleys for over eight years and has been a core driver of the service’s expansion and client delivery.
Neighbourly Matters has become increasingly in demand as developers face viability crunches on their schemes alongside Building Safety and Health & Safety legislations – particularly for tall buildings in cities. Over the last 12 months, there have been several high-profile Rights to Light court cases where the awards granted to either side have not even covered costs with a lack of Neighbourly Matters advice early on flagged as a core risk leading to delays and costly outcomes.
Natasha Bray, Head of Neighbourly Matters at Rapleys said: “Jonathan is a great addition to the team as we scale up and work hand in hand with developers to both pre-empt and solve challenges in this increasingly vital area of work. His experience working on both large and smaller developments will add an extra layer of strength to the existing national team and we are excited to add more talent alongside ongoing development of our talent and capabilities.”
Jonathan May added: “Rapleys is a respected and leading voice on Neighbourly Matters issues and I am hugely motivated to become part of the team and its wider growth story. The business has exciting ambitions and a great people-focussed culture that is both compelling and much sought-after by clients.”
Rapleys’ Neighbourly Matters team has experts spread across its eight national offices: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Cardiff and Huntington and both founded and sponsored the UK’s only dedicated CPD and networking group ‘Light Knights’ which has over 250 members.
Rapleys has been on a strategic growth mission which has seen strategic expansion and new services launched in both Building Consultancy and the Commercial, Planning and Residential Divisions including Health & Safety, Retrofitting, Hospitality, Utilities and Future Fuels whilst also adding depth and expertise in Education, Renewables, Retail, Offices, Data Centres and Land.
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Gain national and local expertise through our multidisciplinary teams of experts.
Associate Partner & Head of Property Management
Claire Hutchcraft
Senior Surveyor – Cost Consultancy & Project Management
Harriet Beesley
Partner – Finance Director & Head of Central Services
Debbie Scaife
Partner – Head of Public Sector Development Consultancy
Jonathan Bernstein
Executive Assistant to the Residential division
Lisa Stratford
Partner, Head of Cambridge Building Surveying
Darren Holdstock
Senior Surveyor, Housing Consultancy (BCG)
Harrison Berkhauer-Smith
Partner – Joint Head of Central London Office Agency
Julian Leech
Jerry Welch Team Assistant to Retail, Hospitality and M&H.
Jerry Welch
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