Savills has bought Currells, a well known firm in east London, for an undisclosed, but likely to be a highly substantial, sum.

The husband and wife founders, Anne and Chris Currell, are staying with the business – the former to continue to build new-homes business in the east end, and the latter to stay with the commercial side.

The acquisition bolsters Savills’ existing east London office network in Islington, Shoreditch, Wapping and Canary Wharf, but would have been thought impossible a few years ago when the best value of London’s estate agency business was in the West End.

Established in 1990, Currell has five offices, in the once unlovely Islington, Clerkenwell, Hackney, Hackney Wick and Victoria Park.

Known for the strength of its substantial lettings, residential development business and block management business, the group also operates successful residential sales and new-homes divisions together with a general practice commercial professional department.

The offices and teams join Savills with immediate effect and will continue to trade for the next few months under the Currell name and branding, adding that the firm is now ‘part of the Savills group’.

The Currell Islington office will relocate across the road to the Savills office where those involved will continue to look after their respective clients.

Savills UK boss James Sparrow described Currells as “outstanding” and said: “East London offers an exceptional opportunity particularly as Crossrail comes on stream.

“We’ve admired Currell for many years.

“Their culture, location of their offices and market sectors in which they operate complement our existing rentals, sales and residential development businesses extremely well.

“This acquisition allows us to be at the forefront of the increasing interest in east London.’’

Anne and Chris Currell said: “We are absolutely delighted to become part of the Savills group.

“Having built the company up over the last 28 years, we feel we are a very good cultural and strategic fit.”

Below: James Sparrow; Liza-Jane Kelly, head of Savills Core London; Anne Currell; Chris Currell; and Daniel Parker, head of Savills north, east and south-west London lettings