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Werneth Developments

Specialist Property Acquisition

In 2012, a development company called Werneth Developments sourced the land and buildings at the parish of St Stephen’s Church, for a proposed 25-35 unit residential new build and conversion project. The St Stephen’s site is located in Hyde, Greater Manchester. It comprises a church building, surrounding land within the church boundary wall, and additional adjoining green field land to the south.


Location
Greater Manchester
Date
2012
Service
Acquisition
Werneth Left
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Our specialist Solicitors offer exceptional service that covers all aspects of commercial conveyancing for development businesses, giving expert advice and support throughout the whole process.

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Werneth Dev Strip

An Introduction

The St Stephen’s site is located in Hyde, Greater Manchester. It comprises a church building, surrounding land within the church boundary wall, and additional adjoining green field land to the south.

The property within the church boundary wall was a separate title to the adjoining land to the south. The church building is also a Grade II listed building.

Rick Barrow
Marketing Director

Several factors made this acquisition more complex than most

  • The land to the rear of the Church was registered but the Church itself was not
  • The land to the rear of the Church was owned by the Chester Diocesan Board of Finance whilst the Church itself was owned by the Church Commissioners for England, both who have differing processes and procedures for land disposal
  • The Church is a Grade II Listed Building hence Listed Building Consent was required
  • The development of the land to the rear of the Church was tied to the development of the Church itself via both Additional Provisions on the transfer documentation and a Section 106 Agreement
  • WDP required a number of other parcels of land to be investigated for matters relating to access and any possible ransom strip issues.
Werneth Developments Arial

How We Helped

JBGass performed their usual duties, including but not limited to:

  • Checking the Legal Title of both plots (registered and unregistered)
  • Submitting searches requested by the client
  • Checking the standard Standard Protocol Forms
  • Raising enquiries on all of the above
  • Preparing a formal report with references to specific clauses and enquiries
  • Obtaining quotes & information for Indemnity Insurance
  • Amending the transfer documentation to reflect the requirements of our client
  • Subsequently approving a separate Lease of Land at the rear to a neighbour

JBGass provided us with high quality and efficient services on our project at St Stephens, Hyde, especially around some unregistered land and rights of way issues. We will continue to use them in future.

Joe Millson
Director, Werneth Investments

The acquisition of the closed Church at St Stephen’s was very complex with several factors & parties needing to be linked at all times.

We helped our client obtain a sought after site whilst planning permission was granted, to ensure their long term interests were achieved.

Luke Hewitt
Solicitor

Why JBGass?

We have the expertise to handle the whole commercial process, including drafting any associated legal documents.

We have the expertise to handle the whole commercial process, including drafting any associated legal documents. As an established law firm, we understand the concerns you may have when it comes to a start-up business, which is why we offer professional advice so you can be confident with the process. We also understand the practicalities of starting a business and that access to the property is paramount.

JBGass have always been a specialist private client firm. We provide a number of limited but linked areas of law, this has ensured our staff are knowledgeable and experienced respectively.

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