Property Development Solicitors
Lawyers for property developers
If you’re looking to buy land or buildings, or develop your own land or buildings, our commercial property solicitors can help. We’ll make sure that the legal decisions made along the way are the right ones.
Our team is on hand to advise you on how to protect your interest in relation to property development, including support with different types of contracts.
Our advice will be honest, straightforward and designed to help you achieve the outcome you seek from your development.
What is an option agreement?
An option agreement gives the buyer the option to buy land from a seller for a limited period.
This can be useful if you want to develop the land once planning permission has been granted and avoid becoming the owner of land which can’t be developed the way you intended.
Typically, an agreed payment is made by the buyer to the seller in exchange for binding the land with an option agreement.
During the limited period the buyer can apply for planning permission for that land and if granted they can exercise the option to buy the land or allow the option to lapse if planning permission is denied.
What is a conditional sale contract?
This is a contract to sell land to a buyer on the condition that the buyer will apply for or successfully obtain planning permission for the land.
If the buyer does not obtain planning permission, then the sale of land will not be completed.
The contract should include details on what the condition is, who needs to satisfy it, how long the party has to satisfy the condition, who will decide whether the condition has been met and whether the parties will share the cost arising from the party satisfying the condition.
Do I need planning permission to develop land or buildings?
Planning permission is usually required if you are building a new dwelling, even if it is on your land.
Some builds such as smaller additions and improvements might fall under Permitted Development which is an implied consent for builds that meet requirements.
However, it is important to check with your local authority before you start building without planning permission and obtain a Lawful Development Certificate as proof that the development was legal at the time of building.
How do I finance a commercial property development?
There are several options for financing a commercial property development, including:
- entering a joint venture with a party that is willing to financially contribute
- entering a limited liability partnership with a party willing to financially contribute
- using equity finance by issuing new shares in your company
- or obtaining a loan
Loans tend to be based on a stage release basis. The initial release of funds is usually only a percentage of the total facility.
When the site has been acquired and the initial loan made, the remainder of the loan is paid out in stages as the building progresses.
The types of commercial development finance available are:
- Building to sell: the loan application will depend on the saleability of the units being built
- Building to hold: if you are planning to hold the build as an investment the lender will look at the rentability of the properties being built, and your ability to secure finance for it when let. Where some or all units have been pre-let it’s more likely your application will be successful
- Building for your own business: the lender will focus on your ability to secure a commercial mortgage once the property is built
Who can I sell my commercial property land to?
You can sell your land to an individual, a company, a joint venture, or a partnership.
Depending on who you sell to, you may need to draw up certain contracts such as a conditional sale contract or option agreement. In which case, it can be helpful to instruct a Commercial Property Solicitor who will be able to advise you on which contracts and provisions you will need and help you draw them up.
Why use Rothera Bray for property development?
We help clients with all legal details in property development, including:
- Options and conditional contracts
- Investigation of sites – checking legal title, restrictive covenants and rights of third parties, and relevant searches
- Assistance with funding – reporting to your lender on the title; liaising with any other professionals involved, such as the lender’s valuer
- Overage provisions – an agreement by a buyer, typically of undeveloped land, to pay a further sum of money to the seller if certain situations arise. A seller often wishes to reserve a right to that further sum on very strict terms, and a buyer needs to ensure the provisions are not so stringent as to blight the land.
- Agreements with service providers – liaising with the relevant company or authority on easements, wayleaves and Section 104 agreements
Send us a message

“We’ll work seamlessly with your property development business.”
Catherine Angrave
Head of Commercial Property
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Posted 11 August 2026
We would give your service a full 5 stars without hesitation. The communication from start to finish was second to none—you kept us informed at every single stage, answered our questions promptly, and made what could have been a stressful process feel entirely seamless and straightforward. We are incredibly grateful for all your hard work, thoroughness, and dedication to getting our purchase across the finish line. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Rothera Bray (and specifically you!) to any family or friends looking for legal support.
Jamie Johnston
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Posted 11 August 2026
Excellent service with the drawing up of our will. Talita Fantauzzi was a great help, simply explaining the whole process and our options. Made a daunting task a simple and pleasurable experience.
Martin Nesbitt
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Posted 10 August 2026
George was an absolute pleasure to deal with. I had an urgent requirement, so we met on Teams. He was clear, understanding, supportive and incredibly knowledgeable! I can't recommend Rothera Bray more highly! Next time I need legal support, they will be my first call (hopefully not for while!). 10/10!
Nick Holloway
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Posted 7 August 2026
I was recommended to use Rothera Bray by a family friend. The staff at Rothera Bray worked relentlessly. They showed a high level of professionalism, and were extremely supportive throughout my divorce and separation, particularly while dealing with a very challenging opposition. They gave me peace of mind, and I always felt safe in the knowledge that I was being well supported during what was an incredibly difficult time in my life. I will always be grateful for the advice, guidance, and compassion they all showed throughout the process. I would never wish for anyone to find themselves in a situation requiring legal support, but if they do, your team will be the first I recommend without hesitation.
Craig Watts
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Posted 7 August 2026
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nelissa at Rothera Bray in Loughborough. She has the ability to make complicated issues understandable, to enable you to consider options and reach a decision (we were completing our wills and updating a Deed of Trust). Additionally Nelissa is very thorough, approachable and efficient, producing our documents within days. Nelissa feels like ‘a safe pair of hands’ .
Sandra Simpson
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Posted 7 August 2026
Talita Fantauzzi provided a five star client experience when rewriting our wills for us - she was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Martin & Glynis
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Posted 6 August 2026
Isabella & Nelissa were both superb in their handling of the Estate of my late mother. They gave helpful advice with regular updates & quick responses to questions asked. They are without a doubt professional & proficient in what they do. I have no hesitation in recommending them & the firm of solicitors they represent, and will use them again in the future.
Shaun Gathercole
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Posted 5 August 2026
I cannot thank Rothera Bray Loughborough enough; my house move should have been straight forward, but several hiccups happened along the way. I did both my sale and purchase through them and had excellent service. They were supportive, offered great advice and updates and was their when I had multiple queries. Luisa was amazing, she was there for me when I didn't understand certain queries and was a really calm influence when I was worried about queries I had on the property I was buying. I would 100% recommend Rothera Bray and if I did ever move again I would use them in a heartbeat. Thanks so much!!
Rachael Turner
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Posted 4 August 2026
We have used Rothera Bray in the past, when dealing with my late mother's estate. Everything was handled really well, so I contacted Kerry Redfern at their Mapperley branch to sell a property I owned, which was intended to provide retirement funds. Kerry handled everything in a timely manner. The whole process was far less stressful than I had feared and here we are on completion day, with the money in our bank. I feel that Kerry's knowledge in relation to selling property, is extensive and she has guided us through every step of the process. As with probate after my mother's death; and also Rothera Bray dealing with an equity release situation, which facilitated my brother remaining in my late mother's home; I cannot fault the service we have had from them. I feel confident they can successfully deal with any situation that may present in the future where the services of a solicitor are required. We are grateful to them.
Property sale
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Posted 4 August 2026
George helped me with every step of the process when I was facing redundancy, offering invaluable advice and helping me to complete the settlement agreement from my workplace. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend George and Rothera Bray to expertly handle matters, particularly for Employment law/redundancy services.
Scott C
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Posted 4 August 2026
I recently used Rothera Bray for a house sale and purchase. The service I received from Ellie Robinson was top tier I was always kept up to date with the progression of the sale and purchase if ever I had any queries they were always answered quickly. My purchase wasn't straightforward there were a few teething problems with the property we were buying that needed to be sorted to make sure we weren't going to be in a bad situation after purchasing and Ellie made sure she went through everything with a fine tooth comb and everything was right before completion. Grace Millward also helped with things and was great. I would definitely recommend this company.
Michelle Dakin
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Posted 3 August 2026
The solicitor I worked with Fatima Altaf was efficient and personable, sharing realistic information and managing our expectations on what was possible, while also always working in our best interest to understand and progress the outcome to our needs and desired outcomes. We would be very happy to recommend Rothera Bray, we found the whole team to be very supportive, positive and dynamic, we were always informed of updates and there were no gaps or unexpected surprises throughout the process.
Wesley

Catherine Angrave
Partner & Head of Commercial Property
Catherine deals with all types of commercial property work and has acquired substantial experience in acting for residential property developer clients in the acquisition and disposal of development land. She’s based at our Leicester office.

Russell Thompson
Partner & Head of Licensing
Russell Thompson is a Partner in the Commercial Property department at Rothera Bray Solicitors and is based at our Lace Market office.

Antony Fyson
Consultant
Antony Fyson is a Consultant at Rothera Bray Solicitors. He works from our Lace Market office and offers clients a wealth of expertise in commercial property, property development and conveyancing matters.

Ed Postlethwaite
Managing Associate
Ed Postlethwaite is a Managing Associate in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property team and is based at our Derby office.

Marneya Chauhan
Senior Associate Solicitor
Marneya is a Senior Associate Solicitor in our Commercial Property department, based at our Leicester office. He acts for commercial property lenders, property investors and landowners.

Amy Moore
Senior Associate Solicitor
Amy is part of our busy Commercial Property team at our Leicester city centre office. She specialises in commercial leases, renewal leases, and acts on behalf of pension schemes in relation to purchases, sales and lease aspects.

Marika Whiteman
Associate Solicitor
Marika Whiteman is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property team and is based at our Leicester office.

Amie Hardy
Solicitor
Amie Hardy is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property department and is based at our Lace Market office.

Danielle Marshall
Solicitor
Danielle Marshall is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property team and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.

Katie Sampson
Trainee Solicitor
Katie Sampson is a Trainee Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property department and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.

Anita Davies
Paralegal
Anita Davies is a Paralegal who works in our Commercial Property department and is based at our Leicester office.

Alison Gill
Paralegal
Alison is a Paralegal in our Commercial Property department and is based at our Lace Market office.

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