Commercial and residential property development is complex. Planning regulations, infrastructure obligations, multi-party negotiations and significant financial commitments mean every decision affects your project’s success.

Our property & land development team has extensive experience across all types of development projects throughout Wiltshire and the South West.

We pride ourselves on being deal makers who talk in plain English, helping you understand complex legal issues without the jargon.

We provide strategic legal advice across the complete development spectrum:

• Strategic development agreements and collaboration structures
• Complex transaction structuring, including joint ventures and partnerships
• Residential and commercial site assembly
• Option agreements and conditional purchase arrangements
• Promotion and land collaboration agreements
• Overage mechanisms and value-sharing structures
• Site acquisitions and disposals
• Development finance and project funding arrangements
• Construction contracts and professional appointments
• Planning obligations and infrastructure delivery
• Development tax planning and optimisation strategies

Who we help

We act for a diverse range of clients across the property development sector. Our clients include house builders, land promoters, private landowners and estates, registered providers of social housing, property investors, and public sector bodies.

We also advise development lenders and commercial occupiers seeking bespoke premises.

Many of our clients have worked with our property development team for years, building long-standing relationships based on trust and results.

We understand that development projects often span several years, so having solicitors who know your business and objectives makes the process smoother and more efficient.

Whatever the size or scope of your project, our pragmatic lawyers will work tirelessly to achieve your goals.

End-to-end services across the development lifecycle

From initial opportunity assessment to final handover, our property development team provides comprehensive legal support at every stage of your project.
Our expertise in property development includes:

• Site acquisition and due diligence – Thorough title investigations, covenant analysis, utilities assessments, environmental constraints review, and identification of overage triggers, ransom strips or third-party rights affecting development viability.
• Deal structures that fit your project – Tailored option agreements, promotion arrangements, hybrid structures, conditional contracts, joint ventures, pre-letting agreements, and forward funding or commitment deals balancing risk and commercial objectives.
• Property development legal advice – Comprehensive legal support throughout your development lifecycle, from initial feasibility and risk assessment through construction contracts, compliance matters, and final disposals or lettings.
• Development finance and tax – Facility agreements, security packages, intercreditor arrangements, SDLT and VAT planning, golden brick structures for registered providers, and documentation ensuring smooth funding drawdowns throughout development.
• Site set-up and plot sales – Estate regime creation, management company structures, model plot documentation, Land Registry approvals, reservation agreements, and sales infrastructure enabling rapid plot transactions.
• Sectors and asset classes – Residential developments from infill sites to major allocations, build-to-rent schemes, student accommodation, later living communities, retail and leisure, logistics, industrial, and mixed-use projects.
• Strategic land promotion – Long-term promotion agreements, equalisation arrangements, pooling structures, access corridors, phased disposals, and overage provisions capturing future value uplifts across extended development timeframes.

Why work with our property development lawyers?

Our experienced commercial & residential property development solicitors brings deep market knowledge gained from working on diverse projects across the country. We understand the challenges developers face because we’ve helped clients overcome them time and again.

We work closely with specialist construction, corporate, environment and tax lawyers within our firm to provide comprehensive support at every stage of your project.

From initial funding and site acquisition through to assembly, construction and final disposal or letting, our team is well placed to assist you with any development project.

Whether you’re dealing with a complex strategic land promotion or a straightforward residential scheme, having the right legal team makes all the difference to your project’s success.

Our proven track record in property development…

• Sale of a former residential site with the benefit of a bespoke award-nominated planning permission to construct care accommodation at a sale price of £5.5 million.
• The creation of a bespoke building agreement for an award-winning local developer specialising in the design and development of some of the best new-build prime and super prime properties in the south of England.
• Acting for a well-established London based developer in respect of various development sites, to include an iconic development in a suburb on the southern edge of London comprising contemporary one, two and three-bed apartments.
• Acting for a Salisbury based landowner in respect of an option agreement for the development of over 500 homes.

Frequently asked questions…

What does a property development solicitor do? Property development solicitors provide legal expertise throughout the development process, from site acquisition and due diligence through planning agreements, construction contracts, financing arrangements, and final sales or lettings. Property development lawyers ensure legal compliance while protecting commercial interests.

When should I involve a solicitor in my development project? As early as possible. Many clients contact us after problems have already emerged, which is often more expensive to fix. Getting legal advice before you sign anything or commit to purchase can save significant time and money later.

What happens if something goes wrong during the development? Development projects rarely go exactly to plan. Having experienced solicitors means you have someone who can quickly resolve issues, whether that’s planning problems, construction disputes, or funding delays. We’re used to firefighting problems and getting projects back on track.

Can you help if my project is already in trouble? We regularly help clients whose developments have hit problems – whether that’s contractual disputes, funding complications, or title defects that emerge during due diligence. The sooner you get specialist help, the more options we have to get your project back on track.

What’s the biggest mistake developers often make? Not getting proper legal advice early enough. We see clients who’ve signed option agreements with unfavourable terms, committed to unrealistic planning obligations, or entered partnerships without proper documentation. These mistakes are much harder and more expensive to fix later.

Need expert property development lawyers? Get in touch…

Ready to discuss your development project? Our property development team provides practical legal advice combined with commercial insight that moves your project forward.

With five offices across Wiltshire and specialist lawyers ready to assist, we’re perfectly placed to support your development needs. While we’re rooted in Wiltshire, we work with clients nationwide on projects of all sizes.

Call us today on 01793 384140 to arrange a free consultation, or complete our quick enquiry form below and our team will get back to you promptly.