Development

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Our development team advises developers on a range of developments the length and breadth of the UK and in all sectors including industrial, offices, logistics, warehousing, retail, leisure, hotel, medical centres, care homes and more.

From purchasing land conditionally and securing pre-lets to occupiers, to forward funding, letting construction contracts and selling the finished investment, we have all of the experience needed to advise on the most complex developments.

Our team includes specialists in planning, infrastructure, environmental law, real estate tax, possession issues, agriculture and construction to ensure you receive the comprehensive advice you need to manage risk in the development process.

We understand how to put together institutionally acceptable investments, what matters, and what goes to value. We are proactive, commercial and willing to advise on the tough decisions. We are part of your team and make it our business to understand your objectives, product and purchasing audience.

"The team are highly professional, responsive and easy to deal with."

Chambers 2022

We have a ‘one team’ mentality, meaning that we work closely with your team and professionals, ensuring that every facet of a project is delivered seamlessly. This includes our dedicated real estate tax team, who ensure we adopt the most tax-efficient structures and avoid the many pitfalls.

One feature of our development team is our extensive experience of working for and with the public sector. As such, we know how to structure these deals in a creative way that works for all parties and navigates the procurement process which needs to be considered on such schemes.

Shoosmiths was named Legal team of the Year at the Property Awards 2022

Recent experience

We worked with Stoford to bring forward the development of a new 80,000 sqft head office building for a major occupier in Enfield, Greater London.

Working on the new St John’s neighbourhood, a £1.3 billion regeneration scheme on the site of the Old Granada Studios in the heart of Manchester. The neighbourhood will include hotels, office, retail, leisure, build to rent towers. St John’s will also include the development of “Factory” – a £130 million world class arts facility and cultural centre funded by central government.

Acting for the Borough on the £850m regeneration of the Cambridge Road Estate in Kingston which will involve the demolition of around 830 homes on the site and the construction of circa 2,500 new homes, together with new public realm and associated infrastructure.

Acting on the first phase of 2,000,000 sq ft scheme at Prospero, Ansty. It’s the first phase a series of developments on the site and sets up the framework, including access and services for the whole of Prospero Ansty - a deal deservedly crowned as “deal of the year” at the Insider Midlands Property Awards in October 2018.

Representing the developer on a forward funding agreement with Standard Life Aberdeen to fund the construction and letting to Premier Inn of a 242 bed hotel in Howard Street, Glasgow.

Acting for Extra in relation to the development and ongoing financing of a ‘new concept’ Motorway Service Area at J45 M1, Leeds. Leeds Skelton Lake Services will combine world-class design with a wide range of ancillary restaurant, fast food, retail, business, leisure and community facilities.

Acting for Select Property Group on the development of three new residential towers at Embankment West, Salford on the boarder of Manchester. The scheme consists of three towers containing almost 400 apartments with a GDV in excess of £150m.

Advising the Council in relation to the passenger transport aspects of the £132m redevelopment of Wolverhampton Interchange, including a new Railway station, the extension of the existing multi-storey car park and a new tram stop and to provide an interchange between rail, tram, bus and car and to help regenerate the area around the station.