
Local government real estate
Browne Jacobson has a leading reputation when it comes to delivering a cost-effective real estate legal service to local authorities. We have in-depth experience of working with over 200 local authorities. And, in each one, our lawyers are embedded every day in handling high-profile and strategic built environment projects and supporting the full range of transactional and operational requirements for our local government sector clients.
From housing to investment and place-making regeneration, we connect our clients with key stakeholders in other sectors and advise strategically in a setting which is steeped in the public sector.
Our specialisms include:
- Acquisition and disposals of freehold and leasehold sites.
- Large-estate management for authorities with sizeable real estate estates, or who are transitioning their management of their estate.
- Site assembly and regeneration projects for, including the necessary procurement and construction advice to support delivery.
- Private and social housing delivery, large strategic land delivery and infrastructure projects, including garden communities and associated joint ventures and land value capture.
- CPO advice and acting on development sites affected by strategic planning issues.
- Investments in real estate and sale and lease-backs
- Strategic and estate real estate litigation advice, support on dilapidations and lease renewals and rights of light on new development projects v Mixed-use development projects between private and public sector bodies.
- Property tax advice – from day-to-day structuring and transactional advice (eg freehold disposals, leases, lease renewals etc), to more bespoke tax advice, especially in relation to VAT and SDLT issues on tax issues, including on public-private joint ventures, and on local authorities establishing corporate vehicles for outsourced service provision and ‘mutuals’.
With such an array of real estate law expertise, you will be in safe hands as we work together to find the right outcome for you. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.
Featured experience
A local authority
Acquisition of 9 Colmore Row - a significant tenanted city centre asset next to Snow Hill Station for Birmingham City Council.
A local authority
“Golden Brick” purchases of affordable housing from developers to deliver good quality rented housing for local people for Sedgemoor District Council.
A local authority
Strategic acquisition of The Pavements Shopping Centre in Chesterfield from investment company vendors for Chesterfield Borough Council.
A local authority
Working with Coventry City Council regarding letting Bellway Homes for their regional head office.
Key contacts

Zo Hoida
Partner

Thomas Howard
Partner

Ayesha Khalique
Senior Associate

Philip Gray
Partner

Jonathan Borer
Partner

Dan Insole
Senior Associate

Barry Sully
Partner

Scott Mounfield
Partner

James Coles
Partner

Katie Briggs
Senior Associate
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