Our Property & Commercial Development Service
Who We Can Help
Whether you are assembling land for a commercial scheme, negotiating development agreements, entering a joint venture, or planning a mixed-use or regeneration project, our award-winning team offers clear, commercially focused advice at every stage.
Our commercial property development expertise ensures projects are completed efficiently.
We act for a broad range of clients, including:
- Developers, both established and first-time entrepreneurs
- Landowners
- Investors and funds
- Business commercial occupiers
- Joint venture parties
How We Can Help
Our service covers the entire development lifecycle, including:
Site Assembly & Land Acquisition
Our land acquisition solicitors specialise in securing optimal sites for development. We advise on the strategic purchase of development land, including:
- Conditional contracts
- Option agreements
- Overage arrangements
- Promotion agreements
- Land collaboration structures
- Access, easements, and title issues
- Remediation and environmental considerations
Development Agreements & Joint Venture Structures
We structure and negotiate the agreements that underpin successful development projects, including:
- Development agreements
- Joint venture agreements
- Collaboration and promotion agreements
- Forward funding and sale arrangements
- Agreements for lease with commercial occupiers
- Infrastructure and servicing arrangements
Every property development project is unique.
We tailor our advice to reflect commercial realities, funding arrangements and any planning or technical constraints.
Commercial Development Projects
Our lawyers have extensive experience across a wide range of commercial development schemes.
Our service includes legal advice to optimise project outcomes.
Our expertise covers office developments, land development, mixed-use schemes, retail-anchored projects, industrial estates, logistics, and regeneration and town centre redevelopment.
We understand the pressures on developers, particularly around timescales, cash flow and risk management, and work proactively to keep your project on track.
Landowners
We regularly act for landowners seeking to unlock development value. Our support covers:
- Negotiating with developers and promoters
- Strategic land promotion
- Sale structures and conditional disposals
- Overage and profit-share mechanisms
- Ensuring access, services and future development rights
We help landowners realise maximum value while protecting long-term interests.
Planning, Construction & Delivery Support
Working closely with our real estate and property litigation teams, as well as specialist construction experts and surveyors where appropriate, we provide integrated advice on:
- Planning obligations
- Construction procurement and contracts
- Rights of light, party wall and oversailing issues
- Vacant possession strategies
- Neighbourly matters
- Compliance and regulatory issues
Our end-to-end approach ensures a smooth progression from initial concept to completed scheme. Our advice on residential and commercial development is tailored to meet strategic objectives.
Our Commercial Development Experience
Delivering 160,000 sq ft of Prime Office Space at 2 St Peter’s Square
Acting for the developer of 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester.
The scheme provided over 160,000 square feet of grade ”A” office space over 11 floors with ground-floor retail and basement undercroft parking and services facilities.
We have worked with the owner/developer in facilitating the site assembly, obtaining vacant possession, dealing with a party wall, rights of light and oversailing issues as well as the actual demolition and reconstruction of the building, working particularly closely with the landlord’s construction and professional team.
Creating a Sustainable Holiday Retreat in Ancient Cornish Woodland
Acting for a developer to assemble a site with planning consent designed to construct an environmentally friendly holiday home facility in ancient woodland in Cornwall.
Redevelopment and Re-Letting of Sevendale House, Manchester
Acting for the landlord of Sevendale House, Manchester, in connection with the redevelopment of the property and the subsequent letting of the office space.
The offices are spread over five floors.
A variety of leases have been granted at the office complex, including a substantial lease of several floors to Ticketmaster UK and also smaller office suites of around 1,000 square feet to small businesses.
Regenerating a Major Brownfield Site in the West Midlands
Dealing with the site assembly of a large brownfield regeneration site in the West Midlands.
The site was assembled using a combination of conditional contract and option agreements and included addressing a number of complicated issues such as the remediation of the site and the absence of title to a strip of land running through the middle of the site.
Delivering a New 30,000 sq ft Headquarters for a Growing Occupier
Acting for an owner-occupier in connection with the development of a 30,000 square feet building to house its rapidly expanding staff numbers, including dealing with the land acquisition and construction of the building and associated services.
Revitalising a Town Centre Through a Supermarket-Anchored Redevelopment
Acting for the developer in connection with the redevelopment of a town centre anchored by a retail supermarket.
This included dealing with the site assembly from a number of different landowners, liaising with the Local Authority and securing public realm works, putting in place an Agreement for Lease with the supermarket operator, dealing with the funding of the development and the forward sale to a pension fund.
Why Work With Our Commercial Property Team
- Ranked as a Top Tier firm by The Legal 500.
- Access to over 30 property experts across Myerson’s Property Group.
- We were the winners of ‘Property Team of the Year 2021’ at the Manchester Legal Awards.
- Partner-led, commercially focused advice.
- City-quality expertise at regional prices.
- One-site collaborative team for seamless service.
- Proven capability to meet tight deadlines and manage complex, multi-party transactions.
- Free access to our Property Portal, webinars and newsletters.
Testimonials
Legal 500, 2027
The commercial property team stands out for its strong technical expertise and practical, commercial approach. They provide clear, straightforward advice on lease transactions and respond quickly. What sets them apart is their proactive communication and attention to detail, along with their ability to handle matters efficiently from start to finish. Compared to other firms, they offer the quality of a larger practice but with a more personal, partner-led service. They also offer transparent, flexible billing, which helps keep the overall process smooth and efficient.
Legal 500, 2027
Sarah Cowen has worked with me on numerous projects and has consistently been a pleasure to deal with. She combines strong technical knowledge with a very practical, commercial approach, and always takes the time to understand my objectives. She is highly responsive, communicates clearly, and manages matters efficiently, which gives me real confidence that everything is under control. Her collaborative and approachable manner makes her easy to work with, and she plays a key role in ensuring transactions run smoothly.
Legal 500, 2027
Sarah Cowen is so knowledgeable, responsive, and methodical; I feel like she has really gotten to know my business and therefore spots the smallest things in the detail. She has also educated me on a number of property-type issues.
Neil Swimmer - Director, Mosley Street Developments Ltd
Thank you for all the hard work, care and attention that you’ve put in to all the matters relating to Two St Peter’s Square with which you’ve dealt for us over the past few years. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for all of us at times, but we’ve always known that we could rely on you to deal with your part of the process speedily and efficiently.
Legal 500, 2024
An extensive team with good knowledge, good response times and good communication. The client document portal is extremely useful for those with extensive portfolios especially.
Rachel Santana - Director, LaserMe Chester
I would just like to say a massive thank you to you both for such a wonderful, compassionate service. I can’t thank you all enough for your advise, your quick responses and your kindness throughout. The last few weeks can only be described as one of those life moments that has been full of anxiety! - and your help and assistance throughout this journey has just been outstanding. I would have absolutely no hesitation in using your firm again. It really has blown me away. After weeks of preparation we reopen our business tomorrow in a newly refurbished premises that has turned out to be 10 times better than our old one!, So there is a silver lining at the end!
Mark Davies - Owner, Philip J Davies Holdings Plc
We always find Myerson take a commercial approach to any lease transactions. This advice allows us to make informed business decisions agree the best way forward in each scenario.
Mr I
I strongly recommend this Myerson Solicitors. They are an expert of their job. It was a pleasure to work with Charlotte, was so helpful during my retail unit lease agreement process. She was so approachable, high communication skills and so helpful.
Legal 500, 2024
Myerson have for many years given excellent service for me both on commercial and residential property matters. They have given robust, practical and professional advice throughout.
Don Lucas
Myerson dealt very promptly with a transaction of a commercial property transfer. They acted in a very professional and courteous way to ensure that the transfer was completed in time.
Legal 500, 2022
Myerson provide a personal but comprehensive legal service, covering all aspects of legal practice. Their advice is clear and uncomplicated, always offering options and choices. A graduated structure of practitioners is available as appropriate, from junior assistant to senior partner. Their approach is always professional, complemented by their no-nonsense approach.
Legal 500, 2022
Fantastic property team of a good size to get through the work and not make you feel like you’re in a queue. Friendly, family feel firm but with fantastic skillset and broad experience in the market.
Boxfish Developments Ltd
We are using Myerson for a commercial property purchase. They have been fantastic so far; my solicitor has informed me at each stage and always answers within 24 hours.
Mr Simon
Easy access, concise and reliable advice, staff pleasant.
Mr Vali
Absolutely brilliant service. Very well organised firm with very friendly staff members and 100% commitment.
Property Development FAQs
What does a property development solicitor do?
A property development solicitor guides you through the legal, commercial and practical issues involved in purchasing land, structuring development agreements, securing rights needed for construction, managing risk, and completing the sale or letting of the finished scheme.
We ensure your commercial property development is deliverable, compliant and financially protected at every stage.
Our legal team helps identify risks in commercial development projects early.
When should I involve a solicitor in a development project?
Ideally, at the earliest stage, before any offer, heads of terms or agreement are signed.
Early legal advice helps identify risks, negotiate better terms, structure the deal properly, and avoid costly issues later.
We can also help shape the commercial terms to match funding, planning and delivery requirements.
What agreements are commonly used in property development?
Typical development agreements include:
- Conditional contracts
- Option agreements
- Promotion agreements
- Overage agreements
- Joint venture agreements
- Collaboration agreements
- Agreements for lease
- Forward funding and forward sale agreements
We advise on all these structures and tailor them to your commercial objectives.
What is the difference between an option agreement and a conditional contract?
An option agreement gives a developer the right (but not the obligation) to buy land within a set timeframe.
For property developers, legal advice on structuring initial agreements is essential.
A conditional contract requires the parties to complete the sale once specific conditions (often planning consent) are met.
We can help you decide which structure provides the best protection and value.
Do you act for both developers and landowners?
Yes. Our commercial site development lawyers bring a wealth of experience to every case. We regularly act for:
- Developers involved in land development projects or delivering commercial schemes
- Landowners negotiating with developers or promoters
- Investors and funds purchasing completed developments
This gives us insight into the priorities and negotiation strategies on both sides.
Can you help with planning issues?
Yes, we work closely with planning consultants, surveyors and our litigation teams to support with:
- Planning obligations and Section 106 agreements
- Highways and access issues
- Rights of light, party wall and oversailing concerns
- Title restrictions and covenants
- Neighbourly matters affecting construction
We ensure planning risks are properly managed within your transaction documents.
Do you assist with forward funding or forward sale arrangements?
Absolutely. Forward funding and forward sales are common in large-scale developments.
We draft and negotiate agreements that balance the needs of developers, investors and funders, ensuring the project remains viable and deliverable.
Can you help secure vacant possession for my development site?
Yes. We advise on:
- Lease surrenders
- Tenant relocations
- Notices and break clauses
- Compensation and settlement strategies
- Disputes where possession is resisted
Managing vacant possession early is crucial to avoiding delays.
What types of commercial developments do you handle?
We act on:
- Office and mixed-use schemes
- Retail-led developments
- Industrial and logistics parks
- Regeneration and town centre projects
- Multi-phase or complex brownfield sites
Our experience ranges from major city-centre developments to regional schemes across the UK.
Do you work with first-time developers?
Yes. We regularly support first-time and emerging developers with clear guidance through each stage of the development process, helping them understand risk, manage funding challenges and achieve successful outcomes.
What areas do you cover?
Although we are based in Altrincham, we act for clients throughout the North West and across the UK. Our use of technology means distance is never a barrier to delivering exceptional service.
How much do development legal services cost?
Costs depend on the size, complexity and structure of the transaction. We provide clear, upfront estimates and offer phased or fixed-fee options for certain elements of development work.
Contact us for a tailored quote.
Our Commercial Property Team
Home-grown or recruited from national, regional or City firms. Our commercial property solicitors are experts in their fields and respected by their peers.
Contact Our Experts
You can contact our lawyers below if you have any more questions or want more information:
0161 941 4000
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