development

• We were instructed by Hyde Housing on a large number of acquisitions of sites for use as affordable housing, including the acquisition of freehold and leasehold land for development, Golden Brick contracts and the acquisitions of completed units.  We have been instructed this year on schemes which will result in over 250 affordable housing units being made available by Hyde. In particular, we have been instructed on a large scheme in Hampshire, with a development value in excess of £10m.

• We have been appointed as sole legal advisers to HARAH (Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing).  The members of the alliance are: the Hampshire Rural Housing Enablers; the six mainly rural local authorities in Hampshire ie Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Hart, New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester; and the Housing Corporation.  Hyde Housing Association was chosen as the sole Housing Association and since July 2005 has been undertaking all rural development on exception sites in Hampshire. 

• We have been instructed by Westlea Housing on a large number of acquisitions of sites for development as affordable housing.  We have been instructed this year on schemes which will result in over 200 affordable housing units being made available. 

• We re-drafted Salisbury District Council's Model Conveyance, Long Lease and 'Rural Areas' Conveyance, following amendments made to the Right to Buy by Section 196 Housing Act 2004 and the Housing (Right to First Refusal) (England) Regulations 2005.

• We acted for Winchester City Council in the transfer of multiple sewage treatment plants to Southern Water (also dealing with the ancillary environmental issues); the transfers of land to registered social landlords for use as affordable or low cost housing and of periodic tenancies or shared ownership leases within the General Consent under section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 and Ancillary Nomination Agreement.

• We acted for Hampshire County Council in its capacity as Receiver for incapacitated individuals in the acquisition of dwellings on their behalf, including working with specialised lenders in respect of funding.

• We advised West Sussex County Council on the procurement and construction documentation for several projects including the development of a new high school, the development of a new special school and youth centre, the provision of mechanical electrical and environmental building work in schools, fire stations, residential homes and leisure centres throughout the county.  Also the provision for disposal of abandoned vehicles throughout the county.

• We were instructed by Housing 21 in respect of surrender and re-grant of leases of retirement flats.  We are also dealing with sailor flats, surplus to the association's requirements.

• We acted for Southern Housing by drafting documentation to give effect to staircasing and completing transfer of property in cases of 100% stair casing.

• We have also acted for purchasers under shared ownership schemes, for sellers under shared ownership schemes and for key-workers purchasing properties with the aid of key-worker mortgages.

• We acted for London-based Social Landlord in transfers of stock both to another Social Landlord and from another Social Landlord.  This involved liaising with the Housing Corporation, on behalf of the client, to obtain the necessary Section 9 consent.

• We were instructed by the prison service to set up and implement non-statutory national right-to-buy scheme for prison staff.  In addition to preparation of the legal documentation, we also were involved in the preparation of information to staff/residents and made presentations to them, to explain how the scheme would operate.