Junior Land Buyers

National Planning Policy Framework – July 2021 Update

The Government published an updated version of the National Planning Policy Framework (“NPPF”) last month which contains a number of important changes which will impact decision making in the planning process in England.

What is a 'ransom strip' and does size matter?

It is not uncommon for a land buyer to come across a 'ransom strip' when undertaking development of a site. A ransom strip is a strip of land that has been retained when a larger piece has been sold, this may be deliberate or may be accidental.

Adoptions: Highways and Drainage

The adoption of highways and associated drainage built as part of new development requires careful consideration early on in the process. Unexpected issues relating to land ownership and unforeseen Local Highway Authority (‘LHA’) requirements frequently arise and can have a severe impact on the timely delivery of schemes.

Heads of Terms

Heads of Terms set out the terms of a transaction and will be used as a guide by your solicitor in drafting the documents. They will also be referred back to as a point of reference throughout the transaction to ascertain what the terms of the deal are.

The force (majeure) may not be with you – Covid-19 drafting in development agreements

COVID-19 has dominated all aspects of our lives for the past year, with the drafting and interpretation of legal contracts being no exception. In this article, we explore key points to consider when negotiating development agreements in a post-pandemic landscape.

Conditional Contracts v Options

When acquiring land for development, developers are unlikely to want to buy a piece of land straight from the landowner. There's a risk that they won't be able to obtain suitable planning permission or there might be third party occupiers that are difficult to remove. No developer wants to be stuck with an unprofitable site.