Shakespeare Martineau and Marrons 2024 Spotlight

We pride ourselves on protecting and growing our clients' businesses through pragmatic advice and market expertise. On paper we’re a full-service law firm, but we offer so much more than that. Expertise, commerciality and relationships are at the very heart of what we do.

Background
Everards Brewery Limited is a renowned brewery based in Leicestershire, with a vision to develop Everards Meadows into a vibrant mixed-use commercial space. Their ambitious project includes a cafe, cycle centre, brewery, head office, tap room building, green infrastructure, offices, and a hotel.

In November 2022, Everards Brewery Limited obtained planning permission for phase 2 of their development project at Everards Meadows. This phase primarily focused on the construction of office spaces and a hotel within the site. As their trusted legal advisors, our role extended beyond securing planning permission to provide ongoing counsel on various matters related to the site's development.

Challenges Faced
Throughout the project, Everards Brewery encountered challenges, including potential enforcement actions by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) concerning temporary uses and structures on the site. Additionally, navigating the complexities of Reserved Matters for the hotel as part of the Phase 2 development posed significant legal considerations.

Our Role
Our team played a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced during the development process. We provided comprehensive advice and guidance to mitigate the risks associated with potential enforcement actions by the LPA. Our proactive approach ensured they remained compliant with relevant regulations while moving forward with the development.

We assisted Everards Brewery in navigating the intricacies of Reserved Matters for the hotel component of Phase 2. Our legal expertise enabled us to streamline the approval process, ensuring that the brewery's plans for the hotel aligned with regulatory requirements and met their strategic objectives.

Outcome
Everards Brewery was successfully able to progress with the development of Everards Meadows. Despite the challenges encountered, the brewery obtained planning permission for Phase 2, marking a significant milestone in the scheme. Our collaborative efforts contributed to overcoming obstacles and facilitating the realisation of the brewery's vision for a dynamic mixed-use commercial space.

The project illustrates the importance of strategic legal counsel in complex development initiatives. By using expertise, the client was able to overcome regulatory challenges and advance their ambitious project.

Key Services Provided

• Strategic legal advice
• Compliance management
• Planning permission facilitation
• Risk mitigation strategies

Background
Blocwork, a joint venture between Bloc and Network Rail, embarked on a ground breaking project in Nottingham in 2021 aimed at addressing the growing demand for high-quality rental housing in the city. Partnering with local authorities and stakeholders, Blocwork sought to revolutionise the rental market by introducing a large-scale Private Rented Sector (PRS) scheme adjacent to Nottingham railway station.

Challenge
Nottingham, like many urban centres, faced a pressing need for professionally-managed rental housing equipped with modern amenities. Recognising this gap in the market, Blocwork aimed to develop a PRS scheme that not only met the demand for rental accommodation but also set a new standard for quality and convenience. The challenge lay in navigating regulatory requirements, securing necessary agreements, and delivering a project that catered to the evolving needs of renters.

Approach
Blocwork took a proactive approach to address the challenges posed by the project. Central to this approach was proactive engagement with the City Council, which was led by planning consultants at Marrons on behalf of the client, to help steer the application through the planning system to ensure that permission was granted for a high quality, deliverable scheme. In support of this, planning solicitors at Shakespeare Martineau negotiated the s.106 planning agreement on behalf of the client ensuring the project's compliance with planning regulations and addressing community needs.

Outcome
The end development, known as The Barnum, is now open for occupation and represents a high quality addition to Nottingham’s property market and a landscape building in the city skyline.

The scheme's emphasis on long-term tenancies, amenities, and services has resonated positively with renters, setting a new standard for rental accommodation in the city.

Key Services provided

• Strategic legal advice
• Compliance management
• Planning permission facilitation