One of the two original solicitors property centres from the 1980s closed last month, the Gazette has learned.

The centre in Wrexham, north-east Wales, opened in 1985.

Initially run by eight firms, since 1990 it has had three practices: Thomas Andrews & Partners, Allington Hughes, and J Hopley Pierce & Bird.

Paul Andrews, senior partner of Thomas Andrews & Partners, said the closure was sparked by the centre's lease coming up for renewal.

'The benefits were beginning to be outweighed by the costs,' he explained.

'It was not viable in the long term.'

Although the centre initially captured around 25% of the local market, Mr Andrews said it subsequently lost its identity and became just another estate agency.

'It was worth doing.

But one problem we had all the way through was educating the public to come to a solicitor first,' he added.

'We never achieved that breakthrough.'

Mr Andrews said he remained convinced that property selling could be a success for solicitors, and would not rule out re-entering the market.

The Wrexham centre was one of four centres to open in the mid-1980s in response to the abolition of the conveyancing monopoly, although initially more than 1,300 firms joined the National Association of Solicitors Property Centres.

The centres in Crawley and Harrogate closed during the recession of the early 1990s, while the Berwick & Borders centre continues to operate - run by English firms Sanderson McCreath & Edney and TC Smith & Sons.

Scottish solicitors have around half of the estate agency market north of the border.

Stuart Jones, a partner at Sanderson McCreath, said his firm intended to keep the centre going 'as long as we can', adding that the introduction of home information packs could help as the centre would be able to offer an all-in-one service.

The Solicitors Property Shop (SPS) - run by Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) - now has 59 members across England and Wales, especially in the north-east and Yorkshire, and reports rising registrations of properties for sale.

Having had 647 in its first year (1999/2000), SPS received 1,549 registrations in the year to May 2003.

ESPC (UK) chief executive Ron Smith said: 'SPS and solicitors are better placed than ever to deliver a superior service for buyers and sellers, and to build their practices in the process.'

See [2004] Gazette, 1 April, page 12 and page 15

Neil Rose