Housebuilding and Regeneration

Davies Arnold Cooper has a team of over 40 specialist residential development lawyers who advise housebuilders through the full cycle of property development. With over 30 years' experience of acting for housebuilders, we have an unparalleled understanding of the sector. 

Our service and expertise to housebuilders includes:

• Drafting and negotiation of complex land acquisitions, including conditional purchase agreements, options and collaboration agreements for residential development and mixed-use
• Regeneration - dealing with public/private sector partnering agreements and regeneration issues
• Negotiation of planning permissions and planning agreements (including negotiating S106 agreements) and keeping clients abreast of legislation changes
• Corporate - dealing with joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, setting up LLP and other special purpose vehicles
• Tax - tax-efficient structuring deals with particular reference to SDLT and VAT planning
• Property litigation - dealing with disputes relating to title, options, boundaries and complex land contract issues, vacant possession and telecommunication masts
• Construction - projects & development - the appointment of consultants and negotiation of main build contracts and collateral warranties, particularly in the context of mixed use development and also disputes with employers, contractors and sub-contractors
• Environmental - dealing with the development of brownfield sites, contaminated land and environmental impact assessments
• Construction - disputes - dealing with all build contract and collateral warranty documentation and also disputes with employers, contractors and sub-contractors Health and Safety and Regulatory - providing advice on the [protection of interests by negotiating with regulatory bodies
• Employment - advising on all issues that arise with employees, including working conditions, discrimination, TUPE issues, and performance
• Customer Service - dealing with customer care issues and disputes with unit purchasers
• Sustainability and energy supply - Advising on decentralised energy and sustainability requirements with a particular focus on Energy Services Company (ESCo) structures
• Plot Sales - acting on the unit sales and dealing with management company issues
  
  Recent schemes include:
  
  
• the redevelopment of Woolston Riverside - a major sustainable mixed-use development from Crest Nicholson comprising 1,653 residential units - of which 413 will be affordable.
• the redevelopment of Newbury Racecourse for Barratt Homes to accommodate up to 1500 new homes - of which 450 will be affordable and shared equity housing
• a joint venture between Galliford Try and Affinity Sutton on the site acquisition, development and ESCo structure of Graylingwell Hospital providing 800 new homes (of which 40% will be affordable) and commercial / community buildings.
• advising leading developers on Kick Start Funding from the Homes and Community Agency for over 30 sites.

  "A cracking residential development" is hailed for its "focused and personal service; the proactive and savvy lawyers pay attention to detail… "  Chambers & Partners UK 2009". 
  

• View our Top Tips for Housebuilders