Ward Hadaway has helped the Land Trust to acquire key wildlife and environmental sites after advising on two important deals.
Property lawyers from Ward Hadaway have advised the Land Trust – which owns and manages over 2,000 hectares of land as quality open space – over a collaboration agreement with Countryside and L&Q to manage and maintain 176 acres of parks and open spaces at the Beaulieu development on the outskirts of Chelmsford in Essex.
As the development progresses, Beaulieu’s open spaces will be managed by Beaulieu Estate Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Land Trust.
They will take care of the estate parkland indefinitely on behalf of, and in partnership with, the Beaulieu residents and wider local community.
Ward Hadaway’s Leeds property partner Kevin Weston led the firm’s team advising on Beaulieu with support from property associate Laura Potts, planning consultant David Hymas and corporate associate Catherine Hinchliffe.
Kevin Weston (pictured) said: “We are delighted to have played our part in the continuing expansion of the great work which the Land Trust does to maintain, manage and enhance open spaces across the country.
“The work they carry out is of crucial importance to the ongoing maintenance of public open spaces and to the regeneration and restoration of land to support biodiversity and natural habitats.
“This project will help to do exactly that and to hopefully provide enjoyment and education to people for many years to come.”
In addition, a team from Ward Hadaway has provided legal advice to the Land Trust on an agreement to acquire 130 hectares of land at Canvey Wick Nature Reserve in Canvey Island, Essex from supermarket Morrisons.
The land acquired by the Land Trust is equivalent in size to more than 180 football pitches and as part of the transaction Morrison paid the Land Trust an endowment to boost the environmental quality of the land and provide for its long-term management.
Ward Hadaway partner Jonathan Dickson led the firm’s team advising on the Canvey Wick acquisition with support from planning consultant David Hymas, tax partner Paul Christian and property solicitor Sarah Stockdale.
Jonathan Dickson said: “It was a privilege to act for the Land Trust on this key strategic acquisition. The transaction threw up a number of significant challenges given that the site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and was a former oil refinery.”
“It was very pleasing that these challenges were overcome and that the land is now under the ownership and management of the Land Trust, as Canvey Wick truly is a unique site which greatly enhances the local community.”
