At Butcher & Barlow, our Site Acquisition and Development Team, who form part of our wider Commercial Property Team, will help guide you through the complexities of your land development project, working with you as an intricate part of your team to ensure that your project runs as seamlessly and as profitably as possible.

Butcher & Barlow have extensive experience in acting for regional house builders and local developers. An individual within the team has worked in-house for a national house builder and has a unique insight as to the issues and complexities facing all developers which he can feed into the particular transaction in hand to avoid undue delays.

From standard land acquisitions to multi-faceted development deals with multiple landowners, our team can deal with everything from the site acquisition to the ultimate plot disposals, ensuring that your business goals and objectives are at the forefront throughout the project. Working collaboratively and as a member of your existing team with your finance teams, contractors and consultants, we will do what we can to help you complete your project on time and on budget.

Our experts can help you with matters including:

  • Strategic land services including structuring an acquisition
  • Site assemblies with multiple Landowners
  • Site acquisition contracts
  • Option and promotion agreements
  • Construction contracts
  • Bonds and collateral warranties
  • Building leases and build licences
  • Section 106 Agreements
  • Infrastructure documentation
  • Site set up and plot sales
  • Long-term management arrangements
  • Finance agreements and funding arrangements

Contact our Site Acquisition and Development Solicitors

If you would like an initial call or meeting to discuss your projects, please contact us at Butcher & Barlow.

You can call us on 01606 334309 or email enquiries@butcher-barlow.co.uk.

What our clients say about us

“Butcher & Barlow LLP provided our company with excellent transparency on both the job at hand and the timescale. Attention to detail was second to none from all parties involved. This is a firm we can highly recommend and will be a returning client.”

“Butcher & Barlow was recommended to us by experts in the matter. The way they dealt with us by giving us guidance is nothing short of utmost professionalism, always with our interest at heart and as a top priority. I truly believe that we have come away with the best outcome because of Butcher & Barlow.”

“They know what they are doing and ensure that they offer practical advice at all stages. They don’t prevaricate, but instead get to the point and make things happen. They have always been available to discuss any matters.”

Our site acquisition and development services

Strategic land services including structuring an acquisition

Our strategic land services include expert guidance on acquiring land for development. This involves structuring acquisitions strategically, considering the local area and nearby amenities and navigating any legal complexities. Our land development solicitors ensure our clients make informed decisions in line with their development aims and legal requirements.

Site assemblies with multiple landowners

Site assemblies involve combining parcels of land owned by multiple parties for unified development. Our Solicitors have the legal expertise to negotiate and navigate agreements among landowners.

Site acquisition contracts

We are able to assist with a range of agreements for the purchase of your development land. By involving the team from the outset, we can provide advice on structuring the deal to ensure that the transaction meets your business goals and objectives. We will advise on all related matters, including boundary issues, rights of access, restrictive covenants, easements overage agreements, and all other potential bars on re-development.

Option and promotion agreements

Option and promotion agreements are legal arrangements allowing a party to secure the right to buy or promote land for development. Our Land Development Solicitors can help landowners and developers navigate these complex transactions and optimise development opportunities while managing risks.

Construction contracts

Our Construction Team can advise on all aspects of the procurement process including infrastructure and contract structure.  The team are able to draft and negotiate bespoke contracts and standard forms such as Pre-Construction Services Agreements, Early Works Agreements and Letters of Intent, Building Contracts and Consultants Appointments, Third-Party Agreements (including Collateral Warranties and Third-Party Rights) and Security Documentation and Guarantees (including Bonds and Parent Company Guarantees).

Bonds and collateral warranties

Bonds and collateral warranties are risk management tools in construction projects. Bonds provide financial security, ensuring completion, while collateral warranties extend certain contractual obligations to third parties. Our Solicitors can assist with safeguarding the interests of end-users and maintaining legal clarity throughout the construction process.

Building leases and build licences

Building leases and build licenses manage the temporary use of land for construction. Building leases grant the right to build and occupy, while build licenses provide permission for specific construction activities. Our Solicitors can help you define these terms, responsibilities, and legal obligations during the construction phase.

Section 106 Agreements

Section 106 Agreements are legal arrangements between developers and local authorities. These agreements outline conditions and obligations related to a development project, often addressing infrastructure contributions and community benefits. Our Solicitors can assist with Section 106 Agreements to ensure that your development projects align with local planning policies and benefit the community.

Infrastructure documentation

Infrastructure documentation is a legal agreement outlining the terms for providing necessary amenities like roads, utilities, and public spaces. We can help you comply with these planning regulations and create sustainable development.

Site set up and plot sales

If our team haven’t acted for you on the site acquisitions, they will take time to understand your objectives and get to know the site.  They will advise you on how best to structure the disposal and the management of any common parts and work collaboratively with the Company & Commercial Team to form any necessary companies.

Making sure that all the groundwork is in place from the outset means that our team can prepare a detailed site-specific information pack, reducing the number of additional enquiries raised by plot purchasers’ solicitors, to facilitate a quick exchange of contracts.

Long-term management arrangements

Long-term management arrangements are legal agreements defining responsibilities for the ongoing maintenance and management of developments. These agreements address issues like common areas, facilities, and services. Our Solicitors will ensure that you establish clear guidelines for all property owners and management entities, to secure the ongoing upkeep of the building.

Finance agreements and funding arrangements

Finance agreements and funding arrangements outline the terms for loans, investments, or other funding sources. We can assist you with drafting these arrangements, ensuring transparency, compliance with financial regulations, and a structured approach to financing throughout the various stages of your project.

Get in touch with our Site Acquisition and Development Solicitors

If you would like to arrange a meeting to discuss your projects, please get in touch with our Site Acquisition and Development Solicitors at Butcher & Barlow.

You can call us on 0161 439 8228 or email enquiries@butcher-barlow.co.uk

Frequently asked questions about site acquisition and development

Site acquisition is the process of acquiring property for development, through various means such as purchasing, leasing, lease-purchase, and land swaps for the specified site.

The process of developing a site involves several stages, a surveyor will initially survey your site to determine where the project should be built and the soil will need to be tested. Contractors and architects will then draw up a site plan which will show where the building will be on the site and where the utilities will be installed. The preconstruction phase is where the budget, design, and timeline are finalised and the team begins to gather the labour and resources required for construction. The contractor and subcontractors will then take over the construction of the project.

The duration of the development site acquisition process varies based on project complexity, planning approvals, and other factors. Generally, it can range from several months to several years. Seeking legal advice early on helps streamline the process, navigate risks and optimise timelines for successful project completion.

Mitigating risks in site acquisition and development involves thorough legal due diligence, identifying potential challenges, and proactive risk management.

Engaging experienced solicitors can help you navigate any legal complexities, ensure compliance with planning permissions and building regulations, and implement strategies to address any risks.

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    an image of Zoë Paton-Crockett, a Butcher & Barlow LLP employee

    Zoë Paton-Crockett

    Partner

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    David Burrows

    David Burrows

    Senior Property Development Solicitor

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    Rowena Wilkinson

    Rowena Wilkinson

    Solicitor

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    Meet the
    Site Acquisition & Development Team

    Our people are what makes Butcher & Barlow what it is. Each one of our team is committed to building a solid, long-lasting working relationship with our clients across Bury, Manchester and Cheshire.