Commercial Property experience

  • The Surplus NHS Estate - as the pre-eminent NHS law practice in Wales we have handled much of the conveyancing of the surplus NHS Estate in Wales and are currently engaged in devising strategies for the disposal of other hospital sites by way of negotiated private treaty, formal tender and semi-formal tender; some reserving deferred consideration, sales conditional on planning, sales for commercial use as well as new village residential schemes. We have just been appointed to act in the £30m disposal and mixed use development of a surplus hospital site in the east end of London
  • Thames Valley Police Authority - during the past three years we have been instructed by Thames Valley Police Authority on all property matters in connection with the specific project to dispose of the surplus police authority estate which included residential properties, commercial buildings and land investment. To date we have handled approximately 400 matters (during the past 18 months) including over 200 sales
  • Welsh Development Agency - the WDA was responsible to The National Assembly for Wales as the primary facilitator for Objective 1 funding in addition to attracting foreign investment.  We acted in various Objective 1 projects supported by the WDA and other major brownfield redevelopments. We were also retained in a series of major projects including the development of the Cardiff International Rail Freight Terminal and 36 acres of adjoining rail related prime development land. These projects involved multi-party transactions and complex land assembly and infrastructure issues, 46 documents and three construction contracts. We performed a project management role in addition to providing legal advice and assistance
  • The Bute Avenue PFI Scheme - this scheme is valued at £225m and involved the construction of a major road linking the city centre with the waterfront and commercial (500,000 sq ft) and residential (350 units) development.  It is without doubt the largest and most complex PFI with which we have been involved and remains unique in PFI terms in respect of the combination of infrastructure (highway) and urban regeneration development. We recently acted in the refinancing of the scheme
  • National Industrial and Maritime Museum for Wales - we acted for the National Museum and Galleries for Wales in the development of this new museum of international repute at Swansea. The project was undertaken as a joint venture between the city and council of Swansea and the museum through a charitable company limited by guarantee, with equal representation on the board by the council and the museum. Finance is being provided from a mixture of Objective 1 and Heritage Lottery Funding, Wales Tourist Board and National Assembly Grants
  • United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority - we acted in the transfer of the UKAEA to a new company known as AEA Technology Plc in readiness for its privatisation.  This involved a negotiation in preparation of 99 leases of premises and the assignment of 30 leases previously granted. We continue to act for the UKAEA.
  • BP Llandarcy - acting for BP we are instructed in a major urban regeneration scheme which is reputed to become the largest of its kind in Europe. The scheme (a PPP involving local authorities and The WDA) involves the decommissioning of a major oil refinery and the creation of a new mixed use community including 1200 new homes.
  • Swansea – Port Tawe Innovation Village - we acted for ABP in the completion of the joint development agreement with the WDA for the development of 40 acres of surplus dock land at Swansea for mixed residential, commercial and leisure uses. Ironically, we now are the first private sector occupiers of a 25,000 square foot office building on the development employing 100 staff.
  • Baglan Energy Park - acting for BP Chemicals in connection with the regeneration of their Baglan Site in Partnership with WDA and Neath Port Talbot Borough Council, creating the Baglan Energy Park. The scheme progressed through a framework agreement and separate joint venture agreements for each phase of the project