Finance and Acquisition

Our commercial lawyers advised on the acquisition of a part-built £25 million mixed-use development site

We advised a property developer on the unconditional acquisition of a part-built mixed-use development, with an anticipated Gross Development Value (GDV) of approximately £25.5 million.

Our instructions covered the initial acquisition, the putting in place of development finance and associated security package, and the exit refinance following practical completion (PC), providing end-to-end legal support across the lifecycle of the project.

The Challenge

Acquiring a part-built scheme on an unconditional basis presents increased legal and commercial risk and those had to be managed by us within tight timescales.

Key challenges included:
Managing risk associated with an unconditional purchase of a partially completed scheme
Coordinated acquisition and development finance concurrently
Structuring lender security over a mixed-use asset
Ensuring the scheme was refinance-ready upon practical completion

Our Role

We provided integrated commercial property and real estate finance advice throughout the transaction.

Acquisition

Advised on the unconditional acquisition of the part-built mixed-use site
Carried out detailed title, planning, and contractual due diligence
Negotiated the purchase documentation to align with funding and exit requirements

Development Finance

Acted on the development finance supporting completion of the scheme
Advised on and negotiated the full lender security package
Coordinated with funders, monitoring surveyors, and professional teams to meet drawdown requirements

Exit Re-Finance

Advised on the refinance following practical completion
Ensured the completed scheme met lender requirements for investment funding
Managed the transition from development finance to longer-term funding efficiently and without delay

The Outcome

The acquisition completed successfully, enabling the client to proceed with completion of the development works. The development finance was put in place on time, and following practical completion, the scheme was successfully refinanced.

Why Choose Us?

Development-Led Expertise – Extensive experience advising on part-built and high-value mixed-use schemes.
Finance Capability – Proven track record acting on development finance, security packages, and refinances.
Risk-Focused Advice – Clear, pragmatic guidance on unconditional acquisitions and construction risk.
London & UK Coverage – Advising developers and investors across London and the wider UK market.
End-to-End Property Support – A single legal team from acquisition through funding to refinance.

If you are acquiring, funding, or refinancing a development or mixed-use asset, our commercial property and real estate finance team can provide clear, commercially focused legal advice at every stage.

Get in touch

I can only recommend Ashworths. Been using them for over 15 years, simply the best.”

Mr V. London