how we helped our clients

Here are some case studies that illustrate the best examples of what we have achieved for our clients:

Mixed use

We acted for a private property company in the development of a former car dealership at Portwall Lane, Redcliff, Bristol. The development will comprise a new 160,000 sq ft office, retail and leisure scheme and will be one of the largest commercial developments in the centre of Bristol for some time. The project, valued at over £60m, comprises a new landmark building for Bristol and is key to the regeneration of Bristol’s commercial business district. The transaction involves a highly complex forward sale to a major bank on a profit erosion basis and a pre-let to a law firm anchor tenant of the majority of the office space

Regeneration

We advised a regeneration company on its acquisition of a contaminated brownfield town centre regeneration site, comprising 19 acres, and the subsequent selection of a private sector joint development partner and negotiation of the joint venture development agreement. This project has been funded by a major development agency with whom we have also negotiated the completion of the funding documents.

The regeneration company was promoted and established by the major development agency and the local council in order to achieve a focused, integrated regeneration strategy for the town and then to co-ordinate its implementation.

Hotel development

We acted for the capital projects division of a leading construction company on the purchase of a greenfield site adjoining a regional airport for the development of a major hotel. The part of the site to be used for the hotel was then forward sold. A development agreement was simultaneously entered into with the international hotel chain for the construction of an 111 bed hotel.

Strategic land

We acted for a regional development agency on its three phased acquisition of 53 acres of land in the South West over a period of three years. This greenfield site has planning consent for development of the long awaited multi million pound Science Park – this is expected to create around 6,000 highly skilled jobs. The planning consent allows for approximately 870,000 sq ft of development. We have also advised the development agency on procurement through the official journal of the European Union (OJEU) of its development partner, state aid in respect of the funding of certain key aspects of the Park and drafting of the extensive joint venture development agreement. This project is one of the largest in which the development agency is involved and will run for 10-15 years.

Retail schemes

The Clarke Willmott Birmingham office has recently acted for a major Midlands based developer/investor on several multi-million pound acquisitions of town centre and city centre retail schemes. The work involved site assembly, complex construction issues, development agreements, landlord and tenant work, and ultimate disposal of the investments. For this we brought together specialist lawyers from our Development, Construction, Planning and Retail sectors.

Residential developments: urban extension

We acted for House-builder Plc as the developer of an urban extension.

We were involved in the negotiations of the Heads of Terms for the Section 106 Agreement, the Section 106 Agreement itself and Section 278 Agreements as part of the mitigation package. The site will involve in the region of 1,500 new dwellings, a local centre, a health village, employment uses, education facilities, hotel, outdoor leisure facilities including formal lit and artificial sports facilities and pavilion and extensive new infrastructure.

Residential developments with affordable housing

We acted for a major house-builder in drafting and advising on planning issues in connection with a planning appeal against the refusal of planning permission.

The scheme comprised 2,200 housing units together with 60,000 m2 of employment and associated infrastructure. Although the site was allocated in the Local Plan, there were significant areas of disagreement between the developer and the Council in relation to the level of master planning required and affordable housing. Our advice centred principally on the various deeds required under section 106 to be submitted in support of the appeal.

Stadia Development

We have advised several football, rugby and cricket clubs in relation to the assembly of substantial development sites and the construction of large scale mixed use projects in conjunction with local Councils and private developers.

We draw together specialist advice involving planning, environmental, construction, commercial, employment and taxation law and the need to understand the sporting and leisure principles driving the situation.

Our team have worked with other key property professionals on assembling over a dozen pieces of land, negotiating with landowners, securing terms, liaising with the councils, creating a development brief and finalising a viable way forward that will also deliver a new facility for the professional sports team.