Press Release
30 May 2007
McGrigors launches new housebuilding unit
UK law firm McGrigors LLP today (Wednesday 30 May) announces the launch of a new UK-wide practice to advise clients throughout the life-cycle of projects, whether they are housebuilders, landowners or financial institutions.
McGrigors Housebuilding Unit (UK) has been created to bring together and harness the skills and experience of the firm’s leading experts in the sector. This group has a broad range of expertise in the acquisition and development of complex mixed-use sites; the establishment of joint ventures; plot sales and the disposal of parts of sites to housing associations; the disposal of residential development sites on behalf of institutions and private landowners.
McGrigors already advises major housebuilders in the UK as well as being regularly consulted by landowners in relation to the disposal of residential development sites.
The new 18-strong practice area will be led by John Curran, a partner based in the Aberdeen office who has over 20 years’ experience in the housebuilding sector. He said: “The establishment of this new practice area will add an extra dynamism to the service we offer to this vitally important and vibrant market, bringing together some of the leading legal experts on housebuilding issues.
“McGrigors represents a wide range of clients in this sector and with this launch will be harnessing the skills of our specialists for the benefit of our current and future clients.”
McGrigors Housebuilding Unit (UK) is formed by members of McGrigors Real Estate Group which comprises more than 85 lawyers based in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Belfast who are dedicated to providing innovative commercial advice on all aspects of commercial property law.
McGrigors housebuilding clients include:
CALA Group
- Advice on the acquisition of the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) site at Craigs Road, Edinburgh on behalf of CALA Ventures Ltd. The residential development will comprise 251 private units, 46 affordable units and a conversion of the existing listed buildings to form five flats.
- The acquisition of a large development site in Robroyston, Glasgow.
- Acting for a consortium of developers (CALA Management and Persimmon) in the Development Agreement, Planning and acquisition of the Bellsdyke Hospital and Hill of Kinnaird, Larbert site, comprising 1,700 residential units and associated business/employment uses.
Charles Church Homes
- McGrigors advised on the tax-efficient structuring of the acquisition and onward disposal of part of a site in Wormley. Also advised on the acquisition of a 12-unit site in Mercier Road, Putney.
Cruden Holdings (West) Limited
- East Dunbartonshire Council appointed Cruden Holdings (West) Limited as preferred bidder in a regeneration project across the council area which involved a mix of houses for sale and homes for rent across nine sites. McGrigors advised Cruden in relation to the development, ground lease and purchase documentation as part of the tripartite process with an RSL (for the homes for rent) and the Council.
Fairview New Homes
- The acquisition and redevelopment of the former Tooting Bec Hospital. The redevelopment created over 400 new homes, a community centre, a nursing home, and social housing.
- The acquisition of the former Crawley Leisure Centre
- The sale of 173 residential flats at Queen’s Hospital, Croydon.
- The redevelopment of Hollingdale Tower, Orpington and the Gorin Kerr site in Windsor.
- The sale of St Saviours College to a housing association.
George Wimpey East Scotland Limited
- The disposal of two residential development sites in Aberdeenshire to a national builder and the contemporaneous purchase by Wimpey of three residential sites in the area.
- Advising on the prospective acquisition of the Aberdeen College Balgownie Centre in Aberdeen.
Glasgow Harbour Limited
- Advised in the sale of the development platforms in respect of the first phase of residential development at Glasgow Harbour. The first residential developers were CALA, Bryant and Park Lane with a total of 650 housing units development and being constructed over an 18 month period.
- Advised the sale of the second phase of residential development for Dandara. Construction of over 700 units is now underway.
Ipsus Developments
- McGrigors advised on an Option Agreement and a conditional Project Management Agreement in relation to a residential development at Park Hill in Clapham. Advised on an intra-group transfer in relation to a large development site at Grafton Square, Clapham. Currently advising on a tax-efficient site assembly structure for land at Hardwicks Way, Wandsworth, its funding and the onward disposal of housing association and commercial parts.
Persimmon Homes
- The acquisition of a 46-acre site in Kent
- The acquisition of a half-share of four large sites, two of them in Ashford, one in Gillingham and one in Stanstead.
- The acquisition of a site in Shepperton
- The acquisition of land at Illminster Rise, Clapham, for its redevelopment as 6 2/3 bed apartments and 8 four-bed houses.
- The acquisition of land at Kingston College for its redevelopment as 85 apartments.
University of Aberdeen
- Acted for the University of Aberdeen in the disposal of their Hilton Campus Site for a mixed use residential development
For further information please contact:
Louisa Hollins
Financial Dynamics
Telephone - +44 (0) 20 7269 7108
Email - Louisa.hollins@fd.com
Andy Peat
Financial Dynamics
Telephone - +44 (0) 20 7269 7185
Email - andy.peat@fd.com