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Strategic land and rural development

Specialising in advising private, commercial and institutional landowners on the promotion and disposal of land and is expert in maximising value from development for landowners.

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Overview Services Our team Our work What others say Insights

We understand the unique challenges involved in bringing land forward for development. Our team provides specialist advice on site assembly, title matters, landowner collaboration agreements, planning promotion, development contracts, equalisation arrangements, disposal structuring, infrastructure phasing and delivery, build licences, overage and clawback, place-making and legacy.

We are also well versed in issues of access, ransom and equalisation.

Our experience enables us to deliver effective solutions tailored to meet clients’ diverse needs and address opportunities and constraints specific sites present.

Renowned for our experience on multi-landowner projects, we are trusted to act as honest brokers, representing one or more neighbouring landowners in their dealings with developers.

We collaborate with our tax and trust lawyers to ensure landowners consider the availability of reliefs to mitigate tax liabilities arising from land disposals, and our Planning team advises on planning issues which are integral to development proposals such as consenting strategy, planning obligations, infrastructure agreements and compulsory purchase.

Focused on representing landowners, our nationally recognised Strategic Land team offers an independent and highly valued service to our clients.

Service areas

Landowner collaboration

Proven track record in bringing landowners together and navigating complex issues such as collaboration agreements and equalisation of land value.

Developer’s option agreements

Expert advice on structuring developer options to manage tax implications and secure optimal outcomes for landowners.

Promotion agreements

Guidance on securing robust agreements for the promotion of land for development.

Hybrid agreements

Specialised market-leading advice on equalisation arrangements, ensuring fair distribution of development proceeds between multiple landowners including cross-options and land pools.

Taxation of development arrangements

Advice on all tax aspects relevant to strategic land including VAT, stamp duty land tax, capital gains tax and income tax.

Restrictive covenants and ransom strips

Strategies for managing restrictive covenants and ransom strips to enhance land development potential.

Planning expertise

Advice on all aspects of securing planning permission including negotiating planning agreements and dealing with appeals and statutory challenges.

Our team

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Examples of our work

Two family trusts

In relation to ongoing performance and disposal of development land under a hybrid agreement for a garden city project near Cardiff allocated for the development of 7,000 homes

Consortium of 13 landowners

In connection with the creation of a new community in South Devon, comprising 1,100 acres of land put under option to a consortium of developers.

Private landowners

Together with a Cambridge College on a promotion agreement and specialist advice on landowner equalisation, collaboration and cross option agreements relating to 150 acres of land for mixed-use development.

A private family trust and associated landowner investment vehicles

In preparing and negotiating drawdown and investment agreements relating to the multi-phased development of a business park.

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What others say

“Legal sophistication with local knowledge and connections.”

Legal 500 UK 2025

“Great team; well organised, strong communicators and a pleasure to work with.”

Legal 500 UK 2025

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Insights

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