URBAN planning advisory firm UrbisJHD is preparing to expand into Western Australia from June 1 via a merger with urban and landscape design practice TRACT (WA). TRACT was bought in a share-for-share deal this week and is expected to extend Urbis’s range of complementary skills in urban regeneration, international projects and new communities. Urbis managing director Michael Barlow said the merged business would be known as Urbis, replacing the existing UrbisJHD and Urbis Keys Young business names. Mr Barlow told WA Business News the company was looking to expand rapidly, starting with its urban planning and design arms, followed by the establishment of a social planning arm. TRACT’s most significant projects include the East Perth redevelopment and the urbanisation of the heritage Midland Railway complex. Director Stuart Pullyblank said in a statement the merger improved its access to markets on the east coast of Australia, Asia and the Middle East.