Property Development
Forging long-term relationships
Our real estate lawyers have a wide range of legal experience across all areas of property development, both commercial and residential, offering cradle to grave support on development work.
From advising large corporates and charities to banks and investors, our talented team understands the complexities behind property transactions and advises clients on all aspects including site acquisition, planning, plot sales, due diligence and heads of terms.
We also work on your behalf with other property professionals, including surveyors, land agents, landowners, developers, land promotors and registered providers.
Key to our work is helping you to minimise any risks, from the earliest stages of your plans to their conclusion. Thanks to our holistic approach and our commitment to full legal service, we will provide you with smooth and seamless case management.
As property cases often involve other legal disciplines, we liaise closely with our colleagues across the firm, including the corporate law team who advise on the property aspects of business acquisitions and disposals, reorganisations and business recovery and insolvency situations.
Commercial development
Our property development lawyers are property specialists with first-class expertise in commercial development.
From sales and acquisitions to estate management and commercial lettings, we are proud of our track record in advising a wide range of businesses and organisations, from charities to large corporates, through all stages of the process.
Working with you, we aim to minimise the risk you are exposed to, while ensuring you gain maximum value for your development or transaction.
Matters which we can advise you on include:
- Asset management
- Commercial development
- Planning
- Development finance
- Property investment
- Joint ventures
- Confidentiality agreements
- Strategic land acquisition
- Forward funding agreements
- Development agreements
- Pre-lets
Residential development
Our residential development expert lawyers offer a 360˚ service to our clients, from planning and promotion to acquisition and disposal.
Our team really does understand the complexities of the residential development market, with many having worked with some of the UK’s largest house builders and promoters, as well as with smaller, local developers.
It is thanks to our in-depth understanding of this complex and challenging sector that we proudly work with a diverse range of clients. They value our team’s knowledge of both sides of the development transaction, which in turn enables us to provide them with pragmatic and practical solutions.
We know property cases often involve other legal disciplines, so we work closely with our colleagues across the firm, including the corporate team. Their expertise in all business matters can prove invaluable when progressing a development proposal.
Our residential development team can advise on a range of processes, including:
- Conditional sale agreements
- Development agreements
- Option agreements
- Overage
- Promotion agreements
- Property joint ventures and collaboration agreements
- Site assemblies
- Site set-up
- Infrastructure agreements
- Plot sales
- Affordable housing sales to Registered Providers.
Latest successes
Plot sales
Plot sales can be complex transactions because every development is unique with different challenges to overcome. This means you need specialist advice from a team that understands the process.
Whether you are a building contractor, small landowner or national house builder, our specialist team provides a bespoke service to help you to navigate these technical transactions.
Our experience and knowledge of the land development process means we are well placed to advise landowners and developers on all aspects of plot sales. That means all aspects of due diligence are taken care of.
We work strategically and proactively so that we can mitigate risks and maximise the value of your plot sales so they meet your commercial goals.
We will:
- Prepare all legal documents, including a schedule of information for buyers
- Ensure all work is compliant with Land Registry requirements
- Ensure all work is compliant with the Consumer Code for Homebuilders and the NHBC
- Deal with schemes such as Help to Buy
- Produce title and contract packs
- Draft leases if you are developing leasehold properties
- Work with housing associations if affordable housing will be included in the plot
- Liaise with lenders.
Sale and leaseback
A sale and leaseback is a transaction that enables you raise capital by selling a property, then leasing that that asset back from the purchaser. This can be a good way to cash in on your property but retain use of the asset for your business purposes. We can structure sale and leaseback agreements for our clients and advise on their suitability according to your sector and the particular circumstances of your business.
Bridging finance
Used correctly, a bridging loan may serve as a strategic interim financing option until a long-term financing option is finalised or provide a necessary short-term cash injection at a strategic point in a project. We have the industry experience and legal know-how to advise clients on the best routes to securing advantageous bridging finance, working with borrowers and a selection of appropriate lenders and structuring the right deal.
Why choose us as your property development lawyers
As an award-winning, full-service legal practice, we pride ourselves on offering a holistic service to clients. Whenever possible we draw on the expertise of our colleagues across the practice, using a multi-disciplinary approach to tackle other legal issues that may arise. In property cases, this may be the corporate team who can advise on business acquisitions and disposals, reorganisations and business recovery and insolvency situations.
Down to earth and practical, our lawyers are renowned for guiding clients clearly and methodically, providing bespoke advice to achieve the best outcomes.
Known for our client-focused approach, we will always put you front and centre of our negotiations, ensuring the best outcome for you. We are known for providing pragmatic advice and for our superb track record for getting the optimum results for our clients.
Meet the property development team
Jen Hicks-Jones
Partner and Head of Property
Aaron Bahra
Paralegal - Commercial Property
Becky Pickering
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Maria Nicol
Legal Director - Commercial Property
Aman Sahota-Dhatt
Legal Director - Commercial Property
Natasha Bhardwaj
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Sara Shepherd
Partner - Commercial Property
