Four new faces for Norwich property development team
Howes Percival has expanded its specialist Development team with four new appointments following a sustained increase in new instructions.
Established 12 years ago, the Norwich Development team has an impressive client portfolio that includes major UK house builders, as well as local and regional developers, landowners, and public sector organisations. They have been involved with many of the region’s largest developments acting for developers, planning promoters and landowners in connection with major development projects.
The team is part of the firm’s wider commercial property department which offers a ‘cradle to grave’ service for developers - from site acquisition through to disposal – and includes specialist lawyers in planning, real estate finance, environmental law, construction and social housing.
Development team new recruits:
James has over 20 years’ experience advising developers, landowners, investors (including institutional funds), promoters and funders on all aspects of land acquisition, development and disposal.
He is very experienced at working either within or as an extension of the client’s team, in collaboration with other advisors, to understand the important underlying commercial needs and drivers behind projects, providing specialist advice on option agreements, conditional contracts, overage arrangements and collaboration/partnering deals. James joins the team from Aviva Investors.
Georgia Short – Senior Associate
Georgia deals with a wide range of commercial property matters including all aspects of landlord and tenant law, acquisitions, disposals and refinancing, with experience advising landowners and developers on easements, overage, options and conditional contracts. She joins from Leathes Prior Solicitors.
Brendan Cawley – Head of New Homes
Brendan started his career in plot sales and property acquisitions, moving on to real estate investment, advising lenders and borrowers on security over development sites (residential and commercial), investment properties, owner occupied properties and property portfolios. His clients included all major high street lenders, challenger banks and private funders.
As the Head of New Homes in Norwich, Brendan is focused on advising regional developers and ensuring the smooth delivery of service from site acquisition through to completion supporting clients from the Norwich and Cambridge offices.
Emma Field – Apprentice Solicitor
Emma joins the team as an Apprentice Solicitor from Howes Percival’s legal administration team.
Chris Cubitt, Howes Percival Partner leading the Development team in Norwich, commented,
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome James, Georgia, Brendan and Emma to the team. Despite difficult market conditions ranging from systemic planning issues to inflation and higher borrowing costs, we continue to be very busy - seeing strong work flows in residential development and a growing client base in commercial development.
“In residential development the suppressed supply of development sites following delays in planning due to Nutrient Neutrality and other planning system challenges means there is still high demand and high levels of work. Commercial developers and house builders in difficult economic circumstances need expert advice on complex transactions, to help minimise risk and exposure, whilst maintaining commerciality. Having these specialist teams makes all the difference.For housebuilders, our planning team has led on Nutrient Neutrality solutions, while our social housing team has delivered an excellent service to social housing providers, impacted by undersupply issues.
“We are recognised for the quality of our commercial property offering in the East, with teams in Norwich and Cambridge. It means we can provide an outstanding service across the whole region and beyond.”
Howes Percival has a strong reputation for its real estate work in the East – receiving top-ranking for four different categories in the 2024 Legal 500 guide: Commercial Property, Property Litigation. Planning and Environment and Social Housing.
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