Land is under pressure. From housing demand and infrastructure needs to environmental constraints and planning reform, landowners, promoters, developers and investors all face a landscape that’s shifting fast. Unlocking value from land isn’t just about securing planning permissions - it’s about understanding, timing, collaboration, and foresight. Clients need legal partners that understand the full development lifecycle, the political landscape and can anticipate what’s coming next.

Shoosmiths delivers clarity and confidence. We advise on every stage of strategic land promotion - from site assembly and land agreements to planning, infrastructure delivery and disposals. Our team works side-by-side with landowners, developers, promoters and local authorities to shape deals that unlock long-term value. We’re ranked nationally for our expertise, and our work on landmark schemes - from garden villages to urban extensions - shows our ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects to success.

Recent experience

• advised Hallam Land on the acquisition and disposal of land at Eastern Green, Coventry to Countryside Partnerships and David Wilson Homes for residential development and to Royal London Asset Management for commercial development

• acting for Hallam Land, Taylor Wimpey and Hannick Homes on the acquisition of land and the subsequent disposal for a new community of land at South Marston, Swindon which is set to deliver up to 2,300 residential units with associated infrastructure

• acting for New College Oxford (and others) on the sale of land in Banbury for the construction of over 1,100 houses to a consortium of national housebuilders for over £41 million

• advising Indurent Strategic Land Limited on the hybrid planning application (and related Travelling Showperson Application and Listed Building Application) for a new industrial logistics site for c.1.3m sq ft

• acting for Grainger on a large-scale strategic land transaction, securing a 229-acre site in Leicestershire for the planning promotion and phased drawdown of land for c.8m sq ft of employment development