Meet the Team – Duncan Howie
November 2025
Duncan Howie, co-founder and Director of Howie, Kent and Co, brings a wealth of experience and passion for rural commercial agency and renewable energy projects.
A graduate of the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Duncan began his career with Strutt & Parker in their Chelmsford office. While he enjoyed his time there, he soon realised he wanted to run his own business and focus on two areas he loves most: rural commercial agency and advising on the land aspect of renewable projects.
Duncan is a member of both the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). In 2016, he and his wife Sarah founded Howie, Kent and Co and relocated to Shropshire to become involved in Sarah’s family dairy farm. Over the years, the farm has also developed a strong commercial let income alongside its agricultural operations.
Reflecting on his achievements, Duncan says the biggest reward has been building the team at Howie, Kent and Co. “We have an incredible team that delivers unparalleled advice to developers. I take it as a great compliment that we have such good people in the business. Practically, clients now have very large-scale developments out of the ground or under construction. I’m proud that the team found those sites and did the commercial agreements with the landowners. It’s a skill to stay on the development journey with the landowner, deal with the issues and problems and be there until the project is built.”
Looking ahead, Duncan’s focus is on navigating changes in grid reform and continuing to deliver opportunities and unpick problems for the company’s developer clients. He emphasises the core principles of the business: reliable advice, questioning assumptions with entrepreneurial thinking, and delivering advice both personally and professionally.
The teams’ skill set of finding land for clients will also be used in other sectors. Howie, Kent and Co are now active in finding sites for large scale glamping pods, E-HGV sites and poultry developments. The principles are the same regardless of use; understanding planning risk and thinking about the development from the context of our clients, the developer.
Farming runs in Duncan’s blood; he grew up on an arable and pig farm in Essex, and it remains his passion outside work. When he’s not advising clients or building the Howie, Kent and Co business, he enjoys the hands-on farming life and time with his family. Sundays are saved for family time which often involves swimming with their three young children, a walk with their two labradors and maybe a pub lunch. To Duncan that is the ultimate reward for a busy week.
