Land Development Solicitors: Residential and Commercial

What is Land Development?

Land development is the process of turning an area of untouched or underused land into a site for residential, commercial or industrial use. It typically encompasses a range of activities, such as acquiring land, securing planning permission, meeting regulatory requirements, and preparing the site for construction.

Land development can include anything from building new housing estates and retail parks to redeveloping brownfield land for commercial purposes. If you are a property developer looking to purchase land for residential or commercial development, having the right legal support from the outset can make all the difference.

At AFG Law, our commercial property solicitors offer a complete service tailored to developers, from acquiring bare land, with or without planning permission, to handling plot sales upon completion of the development. Unlike a lot of firms, we keep both parts of the transaction (acquisition and subsequent disposals) within the same team, providing you with continuity and efficiency throughout the entire project.

We regularly act for and represent developers of all sizes, from firms undertaking large-scale residential developments to commercial developers looking to expand their portfolio of properties. If you are thinking of purchasing a piece of land, our team can provide the legal expertise and commercial awareness you need to ensure the transaction runs smoothly.

For more information on our land development solicitors, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.

Land Development for Residential and Commercial Projects

Our land and property development solicitors at AFG Law support all types of developers across a broad range of projects, from small-scale residential schemes to large commercial or mixed-use developments. Our team’s experience means we can effectively assist and advise on a significant range of development legal matters.

We are regularly instructed on the following:

• Bare land purchases: Whether the land has planning permission or not, we help developers secure sites with the appropriate legal structures in place to manage planning-related risk and ensure future development potential.
• Strategic land acquisitions: We assist with the acquisition of land intended for long-term development, often subject to planning or infrastructure milestones. We can advise you on the appropriate use of option agreements, promotion agreements, or overage provisions.
• Brownfield site redevelopments: Redeveloping previously used land can present unique legal and practical challenges, including environmental issues, restrictive covenants, or third-party rights. Our land development solicitors provide clear, practical advice to help you overcome these obstacles.

Although our land development solicitors at AFG Law cannot advise on planning permission, we work with a team of professionals who can advise on all aspects relating to development. In instances where planning permission has not yet been granted, our team can still work closely with other professionals to ensure that the relevant legal groundwork is in place and is robust while you seek consent.

In such cases, we frequently draft and negotiate conditional contracts (which only complete once planning is secured) or option agreements (allowing the developer to purchase the land at a later date). These tools give you flexibility, reduce upfront risk, and help you secure valuable opportunities ahead of the competition.

Legal Structures in Land Development Projects

Unlike standard property transactions, land development acquisitions more often require more complex legal arrangements. Our land development solicitors at AFG Law are well-versed in the relevant legal mechanisms commonly used in development deals. We can effectively guide clients through various structures that best suit your project.

Our solicitors are highly experienced in dealing with:

• Conditional Contracts: Agreements that are complete only once certain conditions are met, such as obtaining planning permission or securing access rights.
• Option Agreements: These give the developer the right (but not the obligation) to buy land in the future, often used for strategic land banking.
• Promotion Agreements: These are often used by landowners working with developers or promoters to obtain planning permission and sell the land jointly.
• Overage Agreements: Protecting the seller’s right to receive additional payments based on future uplift in land value after planning is granted or development is completed.
• Joint Venture Agreements: These are where multiple parties collaborate on development, pooling resources, and sharing risk.

Plot Sales with AFG Law

One of the key advantages of working with our team is that we retain plot sales within the same legal team that handled your initial acquisition. This means we already understand the site, the title structure, and the wider development context, resulting in a faster, more seamless sales process for you and your buyers.

Many firms split this work across departments, which can slow things down. By keeping all plot sales in-house, we streamline the process and provide a single point of contact throughout the life of your development project.

Funding Your Development: Bridging Finance

Our land development solicitors often work with developers who use bridging finance to fund their land acquisitions. Bridging loans can be a flexible and appear to be a fast option, but they come with strict timeframes and detailed lender requirements which is not managed correctly can substantially delay a transaction from completing..

Our solicitors understand the urgency and complexity of these transactions and work efficiently to ensure your funding is secured and your deadlines are met. For more details, you can read our bridging finance page.

Get In Touch with Our Land Development Solicitors Today

If you are planning a development project and are in search of a specialist team who understand the wide ranging legal, commercial, and practical challenges involved, our land and property development lawyers at AFG Law are here to help.

From start to finish, we offer clear, strategic advice tailored to your goals, ensuring every stage of your project is properly supported, from initial site due diligence to post-completion matters.

With experience in both residential and commercial projects and a proactive approach to working with a wider team of professionals, our land development solicitors at AFG Law are here to help you move forward with confidence.

If you are looking for expert legal assistance in your land development project or for further information, contact commercialpropertyenquiries@afglaw.co.uk or call us on 0161 5152577.