Building safety levy: why commercial property developers should be paying attention
The Building Safety Levy (“Levy”) comes into force on 1 October 2026. It is a new charge on major residential
Sector
Land and real estate development
Whether you’re planning a small development or a major mixed-use site, our real estate team will guide you from start to finish.
112
years of service
30
experienced partners
400+
advisers and growing
Legal advice, from first plot to final delivery
Property development advice for projects of every scale
We advise both developers and landowners on projects across the country, from two-plot builds to complex, large-scale housing schemes. Our clients include commercial developers, housing associations, investors and private landowners. Whatever the scale of your project, we will help structure your development to support smooth progress and maximise value.
Full legal support for development projects
Our real estate development specialists provide the full range of legal services needed to support your project. This includes site acquisitions, financing arrangements, joint ventures, highways agreements, infrastructure agreements, planning and biodiversity net gain. We make sure every legal aspect of your development is properly aligned.
"The team is always very helpful and responsive, especially bringing in specialist colleagues to support when issues require it. Compared to other firms, I find that Tees is very accessible, and I get a clear view of all the WIP, which does not happen with a lot of other firms." Legal 500 UK 2027
Long-term business advice as you grow
We do more than handle documents. We work alongside our clients for the long term, offering practical advice as projects evolve and regulations change. Many of the businesses we support have grown from small developers into major regional players, and we continue to advise them at every stage. Real estate is a fast-moving sector, and we make sure your legal position keeps pace.
Our key services
The areas our real estate development solicitors can help you with include:
These are some of the issues our real estate development lawyers can help you with
- Site acquisitions and disposals
- Option agreements
- Conditional planning contracts
- Development agreements
- Pre-let agreements
- Forward funding agreements
- Joint ventures
- Land assembly
- Planning and infrastructure agreements
- Highways agreements
- Section 106 agreements
- Utility agreements
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements
- Overages
- Deferred consideration deals
Joined-up legal and financial advice
Tees is a Top-Tier Legal 500 firm with a multi-disciplinary team. Our land and real estate team work closely with our corporate and planning team to deliver coordinated legal and financial advice under one roof. This joined-up approach reduces delays, manages risk, and keeps your project moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Our legal and independant financial advisers collaborate to deliver a cohesive and high-quality service, ensuring your business protection planning and implementation needs are fully met.
Get in touch today, we’re here to help
We understand the complexities of land and real estate development, balancing commercial objectives, planning requirements and individual interests to help our clients achieve their development goals.
We have offices across Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire, but we can help you anywhere in England and Wales.
Key people
Get in touch
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Tees Law does not provide Legal Aid. You can find more information here about Legal Aid and eligibility requirements.
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What our clients say
★★★★★
“They are so professional and everything is done incredibly quickly. They always explain things in a manner that the normal person can understand and give advice to help make the right decision while giving you all the options.”
Legal 500 2027
★★★★★
“Simon Kelly is first-rate. He works hard for his clients and is very knowledgeable about planning law. Simon has particular expertise in judicial review matters and thinks assiduously about achieving the client’s objectives.”
Legal 500 2027
★★★★★
“The standout partners for us are Lucy Folley, who handles the bulk of our commercial business, and Robert Whitaker, who efficiently handles employer-side HR legal problems with commercial wisdom.”
Legal 500 2027
Corporate and commercial
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