Real Estate Developments

There are many legal issues that have to be dealt with over the course of a commercial real estate development. These include contracts, funding, warranties, agreements and appointments. In addition, there is also the potential for things to go wrong with problems such as supplier insolvencies and disputes, which need to be handled effectively.

Our dedicated team at Thorntons can help you with all legal aspects of your development, including:

• Land acquisition
• Building and engineering contracts
• Title conditions
• Neighbour approvals
• Potential impediments to development.
• Establishing services and utilities
• Deeds of condition regarding maintenance and use of the development
• Dispute resolution

We can also advise on the appointment of consultants and liaise with architects and planners on planning requirements for your commercial premises.

With funding issues, our specialists can advise on funding agreements and areas such as collateral warranties and bonds, covering advance payments, retention bonds and guarantee payments.  

For more information on our construction support services, see our dedicated Construction page.

With a residential development project there are many aspects that may need legal support. These can include:

• Options, promotion and acquisition contracts
• Planning agreements
• Site assembly and third-party issues
• Deeds of conditions
• Plot sales
• Factoring arrangements

Our dedicated Commercial Real Estate team offers legal advice on all aspects of residential development, structuring the legal documentation to suit your project.

If you are changing the use of your premises in your development, for instance changing from retail to offices, then you are likely to need to apply for change of use planning permission. If you do not get the right planning permission, this can cause financial problems and difficulties later as you might be stopped from continuing the new development use until you have applied for and been granted planning permission.

Early advice can tell you if permitted development change of use planning permission is needed. At Thorntons, we can advise you on the land use consent needed for your development and liaise with your planners and architects to ensure you have the necessary planning permissions in place.

Your commercial property development may well have to deal with environmental issues, such as contaminated land, pollution and risk of subsidence.

Our team can advise you on environmental law, highlighting any risks and potential consequences for your development. We can also negotiate and draft any contracts and environmental warranties needed.