Development Expertise
We have over 20 solicitors with extensive experience in acting on large development and regeneration cases. Our team have advised on some of the largest and most complex real estate developments throughout the UK. The team can advise on all commercial property, planning, environmental and construction elements, such as:
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Commercial and residential development
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Establishment of scheme and structure
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Site assembly
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Development and construction contracts
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Warranties
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Public and private sector agreements
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Planning permissions and obligations
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Funding mechanisms
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Joint ventures
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Construction contracts and warranties
Key Lawyers
Lawyer
Development Experience Highlights
Sean Palka - Partner
32 years' PQE
Advised on successful development of a Thames wharf side residential, hotel, new factory and passenger terminal, long term development over three phases on behalf of landowner which also required re-development of the remaining landholding and a “clean” laboratory/ development facility.
Led the development of an innovative renewables scheme of 40 hectares of glass houses including heat transfer reservoirs, CO2/gas supply and resale opportunities with a GDV of circa £60 million. Acting over an extremely compressed timetable for site operator with landowner/ developer and a green pension fund bankrolling the opportunity to take advantage of government heat initiative payments.
Jonathan Hughes - Partner
24 years' PQE
General Counsel and Company Secretary at a major UK real estate investor and developer with overall responsibility for delivery of legal advice to the business.
Jonathan has also advised on the turnkey development of Manchester Police Force HQ and advised on the development of a propeller manufacturing facility in Gloucester. He negotiated a land assembly option agreement with Transport for Greater Manchester of the Manchester Metro link system.
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Stephen Chalcraft - Partner
32 years' PQE
Stephen is a development specialist with over 30 years’ experience in structuring and delivering large and complex public and private development projects.
Stephen advised Rok Developments on a multi-site joint venture and funding agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland for the development of Wilmslow office park and subsequent acquisitions.
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Stephen also advised a joint venture company on a new hotel development involving the grant of a long lease from Kirklees Council, public sector funding and a forward sale commitment to an investor. This deal forms part of a larger retail/leisure led development at Huddersfield Stadium and has involved some interesting issues around public rights, public open space, third party parking rights and what constitutes an infringement of those rights.
Lancashire County Council on the structuring and phased draw down of 110 acres of development land at Samlesbury Enterprise Zone involving the provision of substantial infrastructure and individual plot development on a phased basis. There were significant state aid and procurement issues in the provision of infrastructure
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Advised Transport for Greater Manchester on the new metro link extension to Manchester airport and, separately, to Media City in Salford.
Advised on a tripartite development agreement for the phased redevelopment of Hanley Central Business District.
Advised the University of Central Lancashire on its master planned re-development of a substantial part of its Preston University campus. As well as re-development, it also involved substantial road closures and realignment and the re-location of major services infrastructure.
Philippa Hipwell - Partner
29 years' PQE
Project managed 7 development schemes for new primary care resource centres for the NHS - Philippa advised the NHS on numerous key developments and redevelopment projects. By way of example, one scheme entailed leading a team of property, corporate and construction lawyers, plus other experts as required (e.g. to deal with the judicial review of planning and contentious property matters). The project was managed to ensure continuous healthcare service delivery during all phases of the development. Work included relocating GP practices to a new health centre.
Disposal of part of a former hospital site with the benefit of an existing planning permission for residential development (originating from 1998 with numerous reserved matters applications involving third parties) dealing with the assignment of copyright in development drawings, the assignment of the benefit of easements relating to parts of the site, the purchase of two small parcels of land from different third parties in order to complete the sale site, issues relating to badgers, bats and asbestos.
Acting for house builder clients on the acquisition of development land, generally conditional on planning, often involving interlinked transactions - needed in order to piece together viable development sites.
Melanie Greer-Walker - Partner
20 years' PQE
Drafted the Development Agreement and subsequent supplemental agreements for Chichester District Council relating to a high quality sustainable residential led development of approximately 1,000 new homes and associated infrastructure including a school, open space and community facilities at Tangmere, Chichester, West Sussex.
Acted for Woking Borough Council on the pre-CPO purchases and other strategic advice in advance of the regeneration of The Island Site, Woking town centre.
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Acted as part of a team advising Sellar Property Group on the development of The Shard, London Bridge.
Sole in-house property advisor for One Housing Group purchasing strategic development sites for her client including carrying out all appropriate due diligence and reporting to the board of directors.
Advised Martinspeed Limited on the £23 million conditional sale of a large warehouse site for redevelopment into 500 student units for King’s College: including dealing with complex overage provisions, deferred payment mechanisms and the release and re-siting of electricity easements.
Michelle Powell - Partner
20 years' PQE
Advised London Development Agency on the development of the Crossrail station at Woolwich.
Advised on the conditional development agreement for lease to secure a major automotive company as a tenant at a major UK port. Related commercial arrangements allowing temporary land use pending lease completion.
Acted for a major private healthcare company on the acquisition and development of a new warehouse facility for storage of medical records, with complex title issues.
Sean Bulman - Partner
29 years' PQE
Led the team advising Surrey County Council on delivery of a new emergency services centre including advising on the purchase, obtaining planning permission, agreements for lease and more.
Acted for a Council on the disposal of a town centre site for development as a food superstore with residential accommodation. Sean drafted and negotiated a conditional contract with the preferred developer.
Gillian Lewis - Partner
17 years' PQE
Gillian has acted for developers of many retail and leisure developments of varying sizes and types. This included site assembly, pre-lets and forward funding arrangements.
Gillian is also experienced in the drafting and negotiation of option, development and collaboration agreements.
Teresa Kamppari Baker- Partner
28 years' PQE
Former Head of Real Estate and Planning at John Lewis Partnership: Whilst at the Partnership she was integral to many high-profile legal matters including a £850m redevelopment and around the trading John Lewis Department Store in Edinburgh. She supported the construction and development teams with all construction (contentious and non-contentious) related matters.
Advised a leading Irish property developer in connection with the relocation of the US Embassy to its development site in Wandsworth, advising on analysis and development of the strategy for the acquisition of third-party interests, securing vacant possession and the development agreement.
Mary Anderson - Partner
38 years' PQE
Undertook a considerable number of large scale and high value property development transactions for major clients including Countryside Properties Plc and Bloor Homes. This included site assembly, planning aspects, infrastructure agreements and financial arrangements.
Acted for Gallagher Estates Limited on their acquisition of a Retail Park in Coventry, its subsequent development (including all construction documentation) and then the letting of 20 units to tenants such as McDonald’s, Argos, MFI and Carpetright.
Acted in connection with a complex Promotion Agreement representing 4 separate land owners in relation to approximately 12 acres of land in a significant site close to Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. This included the drafting and negotiation of a Collaboration Agreement to cater for the differing timing and other requirements of the different landowners.
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Matthew Needham Laing
Partner
28 years' PQE
Acted for a FTSE 100 company’s occupational pension fund on:
Its acquisition and development funding of a new M&S store in Reading which involved reviewing the funding agreements with the developer, reviewing and satisfying ourselves of the Agreement for Lease to be granted to M&S, and agreeing the form of construction documentation to be entered into by the developer and contractor/professional team and obtaining collateral warranties in favour of the Fund;
On a disputed 1954 Act lease renewal acting for the Fund as Landlord, including advising on, reviewing and negotiating a complete suite of construction documents for the redevelopment of the site, and acting in the dispute.
Drafted an entire new suite of appointments for the professional team on behalf Newby on the £250 million Newcastle Quayside West development.
Advising a European hotel chain in relation to the review and negotiation of professional appointments and construction contracts on various developments and refurbishment projects of new acquisitions and existing assets.
Acting for a Spanish bank advising on the funding of the development of a hotel in Chelsea, London, including construction aspects of the transaction.
Prepared the appointment on behalf of the architect Ron Arad in relation to the Design Museum Holon which was completed in 2010, and since then the team has worked on numerous commercial projects preparing and negotiating the construction contracts and appointments for developments in Edinburgh, St Petersburg and London.
Stephanie Hall - Partner
14 years' PQE
Stephanie advised senior officers at Manchester City Council on the Eastern Gateway regeneration programme which over the next 15 years will deliver up to 6,000 new homes; a significant quantum of commercial and community floorspace; a £350m 23,500 capacity indoor arena; and a pioneering mobility hub.
Advised Greater Manchester Combined Authority in respect of a complex and controversial joint development plan document for nine Greater Manchester district.
Stephanie also advised on complex CPO-led regeneration projects delivering excellent client service to high profile public and private sector clients including Land Securities, Lendlease, Hammerson and Cheshire East Council.
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Yohanna Weber - Partner
11 years' PQE
Advised London Borough of Haringey on planning, transport, and compulsory purchase and stopping up orders for the re-development of the White Hart Lane stadium and comprehensive urban regeneration by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club including new 56,250 seat stadium, 200 residential units and 150 room hotel.
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Yohanna also advised London Borough of Barnet on planning, transport and 5 compulsory purchase orders for the Brent Cross/Cricklewood regeneration project, including refurbishment of the Brent Cross shopping centre and the comprehensive regeneration of Cricklewood, including a new town centre and 7,500 homes
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