real estate

Nurseries are property based businesses and therefore the buildings are important assets for nursery operators, with many opting for freehold or long leasehold premises. Planning is often a challenge, whether converting the use of an existing property, building an extension or developing a new site. Both existing and new properties can present environmental issues and such matters are of increasing concern to banks and other funders, so they need to be resolved.

Our Nursery and Childcare team includes specialist real estate lawyers with relevant skills who can help in a variety of ways:

• real estate - development, land acquisition and disposal, property finance and secured lending, leases, landlord and tenant issues. For more information visit our Real Estate department website by clicking here.
• construction – procurement, negotiation of building and partnering contracts, warranties, bonds, guarantees, professional appointments and novations, conducting adjudication and dispute resolution. For more information visit our Construction team website by clicking here.
• planning – planning applications, negotiating consents with planning authorities, drafting and agreeing planning agreements, representation before planning committees, advocacy at inquiries, advice on listed buildings, conservation areas and related matters. For more information visit our Planning team website by clicking here.
• environmental – environmental licensing and permitting issues, producer responsibility obligations, advice on liabilities in respect of contaminated land, water pollution and waste, environmental insurance. For more information visit our Environment team website by clicking here.

For more information, please contact Mary Chant, head of Blake Lapthorn's Nursery and Childcare team, on 023 8085 7043; email mary.chant@bllaw.co.uk.