At Goughs, one of the leading law firms in Wiltshire, our Real Estate, Land and Development team has been undertaking a wide range of complex transactions for Housebuilders and Landowners for over 50 years.
In the last six years, under the leadership of Andrew Given, the team has gone from strength to strength with the client base growing exponentially, and now carries out a full range of development transactions for Land Promoters as well as a considerable number of traditional Housebuilders and Landowners.
Whether you’re a Housebuilding company in its early stages, a Land Promoter, an experienced Housebuilder or an owner of land with development potential, we offer pragmatic and commercially astute advice that’s tailored to meet your needs and expectations.
We offer you:
- Immediate access to experienced and knowledgeable lawyers who can advise you on every aspect of your transaction.
- Deep knowledge of local markets and administration – combined with commercial awareness and a practical, problem-solving approach.
- A dedicated team committed to building real relationships and providing a genuinely personal service, including a dedicated Plot Sales team for housebuilder clients.
- Clear and reasonable pricing with flexible payment terms.
- One of Wiltshire’s leading law firms, with nationwide capabilities.
Our Development Land services for Housebuilders and Land Promoters include:
- Option Agreements and Conditional Sale Agreements.
- Unconditional Purchase Agreements.
- Joint Venture, Collaboration and Promotion Agreements.
- Strategic Land Assembly.
- Advice on all title matters, in particular, ransom strips, restrictive covenants and easements.
- Overage/Uplift provisions.
- Deferred Payment Agreements.
- Development Finance and Junior/Mezzanine Funding.
- Consultant Appointments and Collateral Warranties.
- Development Agreements and Building Contracts.
Our Development Land services for Landowners include:
- Unconditional sale of land whether with or without planning permission.
- Option Agreements and Conditional Sale Agreements.
- Joint Venture, Collaboration and Promotion Agreements.
- Landowners’ Agreements.
- Advice on title matters including ransom strips, restrictive covenants and easements.
Our Planning services include:
- Section 106 Agreements and Deeds of Variation.
- Unilateral Undertakings.
- Affordable Housing Disposals, Development Agreements and Golden Brick provisions.
Site development including:
- Plot sales including freehold and leasehold.
- Help to Buy contracts and set up.
- Part Exchange Sales and Purchases.
- Infrastructure Agreements including Section 38/278 Agreements and Section 104 Agreements.
- Management Company incorporation and set up.
- Deeds of Easement, Covenant and Variation.
- Utilities Easements, Wayleave Agreements and Sub-station/Gas Governor and Utility transfers.
- Open Space and Amenity Land Transfers and Section 106 compliance.
- Freehold reversion transfers.
Who do we work with?
We act for the likes of Redcliffe Homes, Princeton Homes, Stonewood Homes, Whitecroft Developments, Charlcombe Homes, Colburn Homes and Calibre Homes amongst others on residential developments ranging for 1-5 homes, to mid range sites of 20 – 200 to large strategic sites which can range from 150 homes to 1000 + homes.
The team also acts for a number of specialist Land Promoters who work closely with Landowners to obtain planning consents for development and maximise the value of their land.
We have also formed close working relationships with many Landowners, Land Agents and Surveyors, Planning Consultants, Architects, House Builders, Land Promoters and other Property Developers.
What sort of projects do we work on?
Our current and recent projects include:
- The South Chippenham expansion where Redcliffe Homes and Crest Nicholson secured outline planning consent for 1000 units.
- Securing control of a 50 acre site for a commercial developer for the construction of a warehouse and distribution centre and subsequent lease to a major UK retailer.
- Completing on a conditional sale agreement for the acquisition of a 45 unit site in South Wiltshire.
- Acting for the landowners in a complex land assembly and series of Promotion Agreements for a high value site in Bath.
- Acting for the Promoter in the promotion of a site for 200 + units in east Wiltshire.
- Sale of 120 market units and phased disposal of 50 affordable housing units in Corsham, Wiltshire.
- Completion of the purchase of an unconditional 38 unit site in North Wiltshire.
- Acquisition of two former school sites in South Gloucestershire in the same village for separate developers comprising 29 units in total.
- Acquiring and developing two bespoke sites in South Bristol of 8 and 18 units respectively for a Bristol based Housebuilder.
- Purchase of a 36 unit site in Gloucestershire and an Option Agreement over the seller’s retained land.
For more information, please contact andrewgiven@goughs.co.uk or phone 01249 712193.