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Built Environment

Built Environment:

Our rural resources are amongst the UK's finest assets, but while our natural landscape spans millennia, a constant reminder of our history and heritage, the management of it is fast-paced and ever-shifting.

So when you see change on the horizon or a commercial opportunity to develop, you want countryside and estates lawyers at your fingertips who understand your world. We’re here to help.

From tenancy and partnership agreements to land sales, diversification projects and property projects, we’re on your side. Our rural solicitors work with clients including individuals, small to large family businesses, owner-occupier farms, tenants and estates. And we’ll get to know you and your enterprise through our hands-on approach, visiting your premises and seeing your business in action.

With legal expertise in rural affairs spanning decades and a network of connections including banking specialists, land agents and rural resource professionals, our rural business lawyers bring together bespoke, multi-disciplinary teams tailored to your specific needs.

We work with clients including individuals, small to large family businesses, owner-occupier farms, tenants and estates and offer particular expertise in agriculture, rural property, mines and minerals.

Work we have done
  • Acting in connection with the sale of a large landed estate in North Yorkshire.
  • Acting for a bank in connection with the grant of security over a multi-million pound agricultural portfolio.
  • Acting for a landowner in relation to the grant of option agreements over a number of residential development sites.

Contact a specialist

Stefan Bainbridge

Partner | Built Environment

+44 (0) 330 137 3528

+44 (0) 771 100 7544

Email Stefan Bainbridge

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Andrew Facer

Partner, Head of Private Client | Wills and Trusts

+44 (0) 330 137 3346

+44 (0) 779 369 6284

Email Andrew Facer

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Alex Cox

Partner | Built Environment

+44 (0) 330 137 3530

+44 (0)787 219 0881

Email Alex Cox

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What people say

  • Andrew Facer in my opinion clearly one of the stand out lawyers in the North of England on tax and trust work.

    Legal 500, client quote

  • They take time and go through the trouble to understand your business and understand what you are trying to achieve.

    Chambers & Partners

  • If you want the best legal advice on all planning and development related matters with the most attentive customer service, Ward Hadaway is the only law firm to contact, based on my 30 years of experience.

    Barry Spall, Northumberland Estates

  • As a firm, it really looks after its clients - it really is exceptional. The lawyers go out of their way.

    Client quote, Chambers & Partners

  • The team at Ward Hadaway stands out for its ‘adaptability and willingness to change its approach on a case-by-case basis’.

    Legal 500

  • The team at Ward Hadaway occupies a niche in agricultural tenancy law, benefiting from referrals for such work from other firms in the region. Other areas of expertise include farm transactions, renewable energy, land diversification and inheritance tax relief for rural enterprises. The team's contentious work in probate and partnership disputes is highly regarded.

    Chambers & Partners

  • Respected practice covering rural affairs litigation, arbitration and tribunals, as well as acting on transactions relating to rural land, farms, estates, woodlands and country houses, agricultural subsidies and estate management matters.

    Chambers & Partners

  • The team has in-depth expertise across all areas of agricultural law; you can pick up the phone and get the answers.

    Chambers & Partners

  • Very attentive and doesn't overcharge - you're a client rather than an invoice.

    Chambers & Partners

What we're thinking

All countryside and estates insights