Bond Dickinson completes major site acquisition in Plymouth

National law firm Bond Dickinson has successfully completed the acquisition of a major residential development site in Plymouth on behalf of its client English Cities Fund (ECF).

The £30m project is on East Quay and is part of the regeneration of Millbay, which will see the transformation of a derelict 15 acre harbour side area close to the city centre into a new vibrant waterfront community. The two million square feet of development will include flats and houses, including affordable homes, as well as retail, leisure and office space.

The site which is being developed by ECF, a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General and the Homes and Communities Agency, will comprise 137 flats and houses, together with public space, walking routes, cycle paths and on-site parking.

The Bond Dickinson team, led by Plymouth-based Managing Associate Nicola Jonas, and assisted by Legal Director Samantha Orluta and Partners David Skelton, Tom Willows and Kevin Gibbs advised ECF on all legal aspects of the acquisition, providing key legal expertise in real estate, planning and construction.

Nicola Jonas of Bond Dickinson said: “We're delighted to have successfully completed the acquisition of this site in Millbay, which will play a crucial role in the growth and development of Plymouth, boosting the local economy and creating new opportunities for the people who live and work here.

"Our strong credentials in advising clients on real estate, planning and construction matters has enabled us to provide the best possible outcome for our client."

Duncan Cumberland, Residential Development Director at ECF added: "It has been a pleasure to work with a team as proficient, responsive and professional as Bond Dickinson. Although we were dealing with different teams with different expertise, the whole process felt easy and seamless. We're looking forward to continue working with Bond Dickinson as the development regeneration of Millbay moves forward."

Bond Dickinson's real estate client portfolio includes Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon, RentPlus, Grainger and Linden Homes. In Plymouth, Bond Dickinson was also involved in carrying out the site setup of both the Cargo 1, Cargo 2 and Quadrant Quay developments.

Bond Dickinson is the largest law firm in Plymouth where it employs more than 180 staff. In this year Legal 500 rankings, a guide to the legal profession, the firm's offering in the South West was commended with 61 recommendations of lawyers and six top tier rankings in the region including health and safety, professional negligence, commercial property, planning, property litigation and employment.

On 1st November Bond Dickinson will combine with US firm Womble Carlyle, creating Womble Bond Dickinson. The new combined firm will have more than 420 partners and 1,000 lawyers across 8 offices in the UK and 16 offices in the US. This combination will enable the firm to provide an enviable transatlantic platform for further local, regional and international growth putting Womble Bond Dickinson in the UK's top 20 and in the top 80 in the US listings.