Our Property Development and Commercial Property solicitors and lawyers provide legal advice and services relating to the disposal and acquisition of sites for residential or mixed residential and commercial use. When acting on the acquisition of sites our work includes:
Due Diligence
- Title Checks: We conduct comprehensive checks on the title of the property to ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell and that there are no legal issues, such as restrictive covenants, easements, or rights of way, that could affect development.
- Planning: We review any current planning permissions and planning agreements. We check if the property is located in a conservation area and if any buildings are listed, which could restrict development.
- Environmental and Ground Conditions: We work with environmental consultants to assess risks like contamination, flood risk, or other environmental issues that could impact development.
Contract Negotiation and Drafting
- Heads of Terms: We review the heads of terms, which outline the basic terms of the agreement before the full contract is drafted.
- Conditional Contracts: Sometimes, the purchase contract will be conditional on obtaining planning permission or other approvals. We review or draft these contracts to protect the buyer’s interests, ensuring they can withdraw if the necessary permissions aren’t obtained.
- Option Agreements: In some cases, we draft option agreements, where the developer has the right (but not the obligation) to purchase the land.
CONTACT US
If you wish to discuss a case, please contact us on 01420 82879 or fill in the form below.
Managing Legal Risks
- Overage Agreements: We negotiate overage agreements whereby the buyer agrees to pay the seller additional sums (on top of the purchase price) following the occurrence of a future specified event (e.g., due to enhanced planning permission).
- Infrastructure and Section 106 Agreements: We advise on infrastructure obligations, such as contributions to local infrastructure under Section 106 agreements, which are legally binding and tied to planning permissions.
Completion and Post-Purchase Issues
- Completion of Purchase: We deal with transfer of funds and completion of the purchase, ensuring that it is registered with HM Land Registry.
Our Property Development and Commercial Property solicitors and lawyers will help ensure that any purchase and subsequent development are legally sound, minimising risks and facilitating the smooth progression of residential and mixed commercial and residential projects.
